ENMU soccer squads wrap up opening weekend in Colorado

ALAMOSA, Colo. – The Eastern New Mexico University women’s soccer team completed its season-opening weekend in Colorado with its second draw, tying Fort Lewis 1-1 on Sunday.

Meantime, the ENMU men fell to 1-1 for the season with a 3-1 loss to the Skyhawks.

In the women’s tilt, senior forward/midfielder Haley Huff put the Greyhounds on the board midway through the first half, converting from close range on an assist by junior midfielder Abbie Dickens. Fort Lewis, playing its season opener, tied it on a goal by freshman defender Amber Otts with just over eight minutes left in the half.

ENMU held on despite Fort Lewis’ 6-3 advantage in shots on goal and 8-0 margin in corner kicks.

In the men’s clash, the Skyhawks (1-1) scored twice in a span of just over seven minutes near the end to claim the victory.

Goals by freshman forward Anton Hjalmarsson and junior forward Gabriel Legendre broke a 1-1 tie which had held since junior ENMU junior defender Mathieu Beuvain intercepted a Skyhawks pass and scored from more than 30 yards out for the Hounds in the 18th minute.

Fort Lewis took an early lead when freshman forward Emmett Layman tallied in the 11th minute of the match.

The women play their home opener at Greyhound Stadium against New Mexico Highlands at 6 p.m. before traveling to Kearney, Neb. for 10 a.m. (MDT) matches against Drury on Friday and Quincy (Ill.) on Sunday.

Meantime, the men face Westminster (Utah) at 4 p.m. on Thursday and host Colorado Mesa at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Grand Junction, Colo.

Volleyball – ENMU went 1-3 in the season-opening Midwestern State Invitational at Wichita Falls, Texas, dropping a pair of five-setters on Friday before splitting 3-0 decisions on Saturday.

The Hounds lost to Western Colorado 15-25,25-17, 25-23, 20-25, 15-13 in their opening match, then fell to Southwestern Oklahoma 22-25, 25-21, 23-25, 27-25, 15-9.

Senior outside hitter Mikaela Garvin collected 19 kills, seven block assists and three aces against the Mountaineers, while senior middle blocker Gracelyn Stubbs had nine kills, seven blocks (one solo), three aces and 24 assists, senior libero Getsemani Carrasco posted 26 digs and four assists and sophomore setter Kayla Ison added 20 assists and nine digs.

Garvin notched seven kills and four block assists against the Lady Bulldogs, while Stubbs collected 15 kills, six blocks (one solo) and 20 assists and Carrasco added 23 digs.

In Saturday’s action, ENMU earned a 25-20, 25-11, 25-21 victory over West Alabama before losing to Central Oklahoma 25-18, 25-17, 25-16.

Garvin posted 12 kills, three block assists and two aces in the win over the Tigers, while Carrasco (13 digs, 11 assists) and Ison (11 digs, 14 assists) notched double-doubles.

In the loss to Southwestern, Stubbs recorded eight kills, two blocks (one solo) and 16 assists, while senior outside hitter Halle Sanders had nine kills and nine digs and Carrasco compiled 18 digs.

The Hounds return to action this weekend in Texas-Permian Basin’s Iceman Invitational. They face Sul Ross State and the host Falcons on Friday, then play Minnesota-Crookston and Hobbs-based University of the Southwest on Saturday.

Cross country – ENMU kicked off its season on Saturday in the Lori Fitzgerald Open at Las Cruces, hosted by New Mexico State.

Each Greyhounds squad had just four runners, one short of a full team.

Senior Kaylyn De La Rosa led ENMU’s women, placing 19th in 19 minutes, 43.52 seconds. Other finishers for the Hounds were senior Maritza Alvarez, 30th in 20:36.12; senior Lauren Griego, 48th in 22:45.86, and sophomore Elise Toya, 52nd in 24:50.84.

NMSU, led by individual winner Maggie Gibbs (17:13.68), ran away with team honors with 22 points to 63 for New Mexico Junior College.

The men’s top finisher was freshman Matthew Guerra, who ran 16 minutes, 43.73 seconds for 45th place. Junior Ethan Woodrome was 56th in 18:30.56, sophomore Emmanuel Hernandez 58th in 19:58.76 and junior Ricky Diaz 60th in 21:00.47.

New Mexico State finished with 41 points and won a sixth-man tiebreaker over New Mexico JC for the team title. Texas-El Paso’s Victor Kibiego took individual honors in 14:49.04.

ENMU runners are back in action on Thursday in Midwestern State’s Mustang Derby at Wichita Falls.