ENMU clinches women's soccer playoff berth

CANYON, Texas — Eastern New Mexico University’s women’s soccer team pulled a tie from the jaws of defeat, and clinched itself a berth in the Lone Star Conference playoffs.

Kenya Brooke scored the equalizer on an Ariel Lopez pass with 1:46 to play, and neither the visiting Greyhounds nor West Texas A&M scored in the two overtime periods of the 1-1 tie Wednesday night.

It was a stunner for the Greyhounds (3-8-6, 2-5-4), who didn’t have a shot on goal until more than 70 minutes had passed. They trailed early in the second half, when WT’s Khaline Jacob scored after a corner kick.

With one game to play, the tie temporarily moves the Greyhounds (3-8-6, 2-5-4) into sole possession of fifth place with 10 conference points — three points for each of their two wins, and a point each for their four ties. The Buffs (6-6-5, 4-3-4) remain in fourth place at 16.

Alejandra Camarillo made three saves, all in overtime, for the Greyhounds.

On the bright side, the tie means the Greyhounds can finish no worse than the sixth spot and will claim a berth in the LSC tournament. Entering the game, the Greyhounds would have clinched a playoff berth with a loss by one goal or any more favorable result.

On the negative side, the loss means Hounds can’t overtake the Buffs in the standings — consequently, they can finish no higher than fifth and will play their first-round game on the road.

The top seed will host the semifinals and championship Nov. 3-4, while the 3-6 and 4-5 games will be hosted by the higher seeds Nov. 1.

Texas Woman’s, which plays two more games to ENMU’s one, has nine conference points. The Pioneers are on the road for both, at Angelo State Friday and Texas-Permian Basin Saturday.

Texas-Permian Basin is locked into seventh place at 1-9 with three conference points. Although the Falcons could catch Texas Woman’s in conference points and split the season series with the Pioneers, they’d lose on the next tiebreaker of goal differential in conference games.

Eastern broke a single-season record for ties (six, beating the five recorded in 2013) and played its ninth overtime game (one short of the 10 played in the 2013 season).

The Greyhounds conclude the regular season Friday at Midwestern State.