ENMU, Quincy exchange late goals in 3-3 tie

KEARNEY, Neb. – Eastern New Mexico University’s women took a late lead against Quincy (Ill.) on Sunday, but the Hawks were able to get a late goal of their own to force a 3-3 tie.

ENMU (1-1-3) bounced back from a 3-0 loss to Drury in its first match of the weekend at Nebraska-Kearney.

A goal from junior forward Lisa Albarran in the 11th minute was enough to give the Hawks (0-3-1) a 1-0 lead at halftime. Play was suspended early in the second half due to lightning, but when it resumed the Hounds got match-tying goals in a span of 10 minutes from senior Sydney Saxon, both off assists from senior forward/midfielder Haley Huff, to make it 2-2.

With just under three minutes left, Saxon had an assist on a tally by senior midfielder/defender Emma Hafenbrak, but Quincy junior defender Paige Nguyen netted her second goal of the contest with just over a minute left to tie it again.

ENMU had an 8-4 advantage in shots on goal, while the Hawks led in corner kicks 9-4.

On Friday, the Hounds face off with Colorado Christian in an 11 a.m. match at Lakewood, Colo.

Colorado Mesa 4, ENMU 1 (men’s soccer, Saturday) – At Grand Junction, Colo., the host Mavericks (2-2) broke open a close match with two goals in a five-minute span early in the second half.

With the score 1-0, Mesa extended its lead when a Mavericks cross deflected off an ENMU defender and went into the net for an own goal. Five minutes later, sophomore midfielder Joao Pedro Moraes cut in from the left wing and scored into the bottom left corner of the net to make it 3-0 and all but put the contest out of reach.

ENMU freshman midfielder Ignacio Lopez rifled a free kick into the net in the 70th minute, but Mesa regained its three-goal margin in the 80th minute on a tally by sophomore forward Manuel Ponce Casas.

The Hounds (1-2-1) outshot the Mavericks on goal 7-6 for the match, and had a 4-1 margin in corners. But they committed 15 fouls to just three for Mesa.

ENMU plays its home opener on Saturday in a 5 p.m. start against South Dakota Mines at Greyhound Stadium.

Volleyball sweeps Saturday matches – At Odessa, Texas, ENMU notched 3-0 wins over Minnesota-Crookston and University of the Southwest on Saturday and finished 3-1 for the weekend in Texas-Permian Basin’s Iceman Invitational.

The Hounds (3-4) defeated Crookston 27-25, 25-19, 26-24 and won over the Hobbs-based Mustangs 25-19, 25-12, 25-17. Senior libero Getsemani Carrasco and senior middle blocker Gracelyn Stubbs were named to the all-tournament squad.

ENMU pulled out a tight win over Crookston (2-6). The Golden Eagles had set point in Game 1, but two kills from senior outside hitter Mikaela Garvin and a pair of Crookston errors pushed the Hounds over the top.

After taking Game 2, the Hounds used a late 5-0 run to pull ahead in the third set. Kills from Garvin and senior outside hitter Darcy Dodd closed out the match.

Three Hounds earned double-doubles in the match – Stubbs (17 assists, 10 digs), Carrasco (21 digs, 10 assists) and sophomore setter Kayla Ison (15 digs, 13 assists). Garvin added a team-high 13 kills to go with four block assists.

ENMU had less trouble with USW (0-8), improving to 9-0 all-time against the Mustangs. The Hounds, in fact, have never lost a set in the series.

Stubbs and Garvin had seven kills apiece, while Stubbs added 14 assists, four total blocks and two aces. Getsemani posted a match-high 17 digs while Ison had eight digs and 12 assists.

ENMU opens its home schedule with four matches in the LSC Preview at Greyhound Arena. Five league schools will take part, with the Hounds facing Cameron at noon and Western New Mexico at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, St. Edward’s at 6 p.m. on Friday and Midwestern State at 4 p.m. on Saturday.