Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Eastern New Mexico sophomore goalkeeper Ross Dalton was named the Heartland Conference's defensive player of the week. It is the Greyhounds' first Heartland weekly award since the team joined the conference in 2016.
WACO, Texas — The Eastern New Mexico men’s soccer team is hoping to notch its first — and last — Heartland Conference playoff berth in school history this week.
They’ll start it off with the school’s first conference award winner in school history. Sophomore goalkeeper Ross Dalton was honored as the defensive player of the week, according to a release from the conference.
Brandon Tripp, assistant commissioner for strategic positioning, confirmed Dalton was the first Greyhound to claim a Heartland award since joining in 2016.
Dalton played all 180 minutes of the Greyhounds’ two home matches last week. He had the first shutout of the season for ENMU in Thursday’s 3-0 win over Dallas Baptist, and took a 2-1 win Saturday over St. Edward’s. He faced 18 total shots, with six on goal, and made five saves in the games.
For the season, Dalton is eighth in the conference with 30 saves, and has a .682 save percentage.
Eastern will close out the regular season with a pair of home games against West Division rivals — 7 p.m. Thursday against Lubbock Christian and 1 p.m. Saturday against West Texas A&M. The playoff field will include three division winners and three at-large teams.
Thursday’s ENMU-LCU winner will clinch the West division. In the event of a tie:
• ENMU would need a win over West Texas A&M and an LCU tie or loss against Texas-Permian Basin to clinch the division.
• Lubbock Christian would win the division with either a win Saturday over Texas-Permian Basin or a tie and ENMU tie or loss against WT.
• The Buffaloes, who have already clinched at least an at-large berth, would take the division with wins over UTPB Thursday and ENMU Saturday, plus an LCU loss Saturday to UTPB.
Any Heartland playoff berth for ENMU would be its last. The Heartland is disbanding next season, with every men’s soccer member but Newman joining the LSC.
