ENMU women break into win column 1-0

Gaia Chies scored early, and the Eastern New Mexico University women’s soccer team made it stand up on Sunday for a 1-0 victory over Colorado Christian at Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium, the Greyhounds’ first win of the season.

Chies, a junior midfielder from Italy, took a pass from senior midfielder Meghann Wingsutton and curled the ball past Cougars goalkeeper Alana Lopp and into the top corner of the net with just over 7 ½ minutes gone – one of just two shots on goal for the Hounds in the match.

Meantime, the Cougars (1-3-1) put seven shots on target, all stopped by ENMU freshman goalkeeper Rosie Willmott Joyce. Six of Colorado Christian’s attempts came in the second half.

The win squared the all-time series between the teams at 4-4.

It was also the final non-league tuneup for the Hounds, who begin Lone Star Conference play tonight with a 7 p.m. home tilt against rival West Texas A&M.

Men’s soccer – At Wichita Falls, Texas, the ENMU men’s soccer team faced its second ranked foe in three days on Saturday and scored twice in a 14-minute span of the opening half to come away with a 2-2 draw against Fort Hays State in the MSU Soccer Fall Festival, hosted by Midwestern State.

The Hays, Kan.-based Tigers (3-1-1) wasted no time taking the lead as senior midfielder Bryce Dickerson tallied just under two minutes into the match, assisted by junior midfielder Tadhg Walsh.

ENMU (1-2-3) responded less than 3 ½ minutes later, with senior forward Nick Huenig scoring off an assist from senior defender Colin Hyzy. The Hounds went in from when junior forward Ben Sauerlander beat Tigers keeper Jorge Valentin for his second goal of the campaign.

Fort Hays pulled even about six minutes into the second stanza on a goal by senior defender Dimitry Tchantcheu, and the game stayed that way to the end.

Fort Hays posted a 5-3 edge in shots on goal. ENMU senior keeper Catalin Nastuta was credited with three saves.

The Hounds host Lone Star Conference newcomer Sul Ross State at 6 p.m. on Saturday in their final non-conference outing. They open LSC action at home against St. Mary’s on Oct. 5 in a 1 p.m. start.

Volleyball – ENMU posted its second win in a row in its three-day Lone Star Conference Challenge volleyball event on Saturday, outlasting Western New Mexico 15-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-16, 15-11 at Steve Loy Family Foundation Arena.

Senior outside hitter Darcy Dodd led three players with double-digit kills for the Hounds (3-8) with 17, and narrowly missed a double-double with nine digs. Also, sophomore outside hitter/middle blocker Sophia Valdez added 13 kills and senior outside hitter Halle Sanders had 11.

Freshman setters Cayla Reyes and Abigayle Falefia had 25 and 17 assists, respectively, and both also collected eight digs. Junior libero/defensive specialist Imahni Brown had a match-high and season-best 25 digs as ENMU beat the Mustangs (4-7) for the fourth time in a row and the second consecutive time in five sets.

Senior outside hitter Jazmyne Walker had 17 kills and 10 digs for WNMU, while freshman middle blocker Jayden Hughes added 14 kills. WNMU had 13 aces, including five by senior defensive specialist Logan Dodge and four by junior libero/defensive specialist Chase Kallevig, while junior Elmaya Medina and freshman Ava Wadley notched 25 and 20 assists, respectively.

ENMU now turns its attention to LSC play, traveling to Texas-Permian Basin on Thursday night and WNMU on Saturday.