Hounds, Sul Ross State play to scoreless draw

ALPINE, Texas – The battle for spots in the Lone Star Conference men’s soccer postseason tournament is on as the season winds down.

Six of the 11 teams will make the field, and currently six squads are separated by two points (three for a win, one for a tie) between fifth and 10th place.

That would include Eastern New Mexico University, which is in a three-way tie for fifth (nine points) with West Texas A&M and Lubbock Christian after playing a scoreless draw with Sul Ross State on Saturday. The Lobos, in their first year of LSC competition, are currently at seven points.

ENMU (4-4-6, 2-2-3 LSC) has its work cut out with three matches to go. The Greyhounds play at WT and at LCU, while in between they host second-place Midwestern State.

ENMU, which beat Sul Ross 2-0 in non-league play at home on Sept. 28, outshot the Lobos on goal 7-4 and had a 7-1 edge in corner kicks in this one, but couldn’t find the net. In addition, Sul Ross State’s Angel Lugo was ejected on a red card late in the half, forcing the Lobos to play the rest of the way a man down.

Sul Ross (6-7-1, 2-4-1) threatened to pull it out late, with three of its shots on goal and another banging off the crossbar, but the Lobos came up empty.

The Hounds face WT at 6 p.m. (MDT) tonight in Canyon. They host MSU at 7 p.m. on Saturday and travel to LCU for a 6 p.m. (MST) tilt next Wednesday.

Rattlers edge ENMU women – St. Mary’s got a goal from senior midfielder Bella Ramirez about 10 minutes into the second half, and the Rattlers made it stand up for a 2-1 LSC women’s soccer victory over the Hounds on Saturday at Steve Loy Stadium.

St. Mary’s (6-5-3, 4-3-2 LSC) scored about nine minutes into the contest on a penalty kick by junior midfielder Shelby Paniagua. Despite three more shots on goal the rest of the half, the Rattlers were unable to extend their advantage.

ENMU (2-10-1, 1-8) pulled even early in the second stanza when senior forward Ally Spicker intercepted a pass and worked past Rattlers senior keeper Rebecca Difronzo to tie the match. That held up for about six minutes before Ramirez headed in a free kick.

ENMU had two shots on goal in the remaining time, but Difronzo was equal to the challenge.

The Hounds looked to end a seven-match losing streak on Tuesday night at Oklahoma Christian. Their next outing is at 1 p.m. on Friday against Texas A&M International at Steve Loy Stadium.