Dustdevils hand ENMU 4-0 setback

Eastern New Mexico University’s struggles continued on Friday, particularly on offense, and the Greyhounds dropped a 2-0 Lone Star Conference women’s soccer decision to Texas A&M International at Steve Loy Stadium.

ENMU (2-12-1, 1-10 LSC) was shut out for the ninth time this season and, in fact, hasn’t scored more than one goal in any of its matches this fall. The Greyhounds have dropped nine matches in a row since a 1-0 victory at Sul Ross State on Sept. 28.

The Dustdevils (4-7-6, 3-5-4), winning for the first time in four tries in Portales (1-2-1), made a pair of first-half goals stand up for the victory, including a tally by senior Krysan St. Louis just over two minutes into the match. Junior Laura Cardenas added an insurance goal with just under two minutes remaining in the half.

International freshman goalkeeper Claramalia Pedersen and ENMU freshman netminder Rosie Willmott Joyce each had four saves. The Dustdevils, who received three yellow cards in the contest, posted a 5-4 margin in corner kicks.

ENMU hosts Texas-Permian Basin at 7 p.m. on Monday, then finishes the season on Thursday at Dallas Baptist

On Tuesday at Edmond, Okla., the Hounds absorbed an 8-1 drubbing at the hands of Oklahoma Christian.

Senior forward Kyla Lovelace and sophomore forward Ashley Moore each had a pair of goals for the Eagles (9-3-4, 5-3-3). OC scored three times in a 10-minute span to lead 3-0 at halftime, and added three goals – including Moore’s two tallies, her first as a collegian – over the final 12 minutes to turn the contest into a rout.

Lovelace now has 30 goals, adding to her all-time NCAA Division II mark at OC. The margin of victory was the largest for the Eagles since they joined D-II in 2013, while it was the Hounds’ most lopsided loss this season.

ENMU broke through in the 74th minute as sophomore Kylie Drewett posted her first collegiate goal off an assist from freshman forward Meredith Brown.

OC held a 14-6 margin in shots on goal and had four corners to one for ENMU.

West Texas A&M 4, ENMU 2 (Wednesday, men’s soccer) – After tying the score with less than four minutes to play, ENMU watched the Buffaloes punch in a pair of tallies in the remaining time to claim a key LSC victory at Canyon, Texas.

Trailing 2-1, senior midfielder Giani Mascarel pounced on a loose ball in the box and shoved it into the net for pull the Hounds even. But 50 seconds later, WT junior midfielder Matteo Landais scored for the lead and sophomore forward Desire Essis added an insurance tally with 26 seconds to go.

ENMU (4-5-6, 2-3-3 LSC) took the lead in the 10th minute as sophomore Robin Vandewalle put in his third goal of the campaign off assists from junior defender Arthur Macri and junior forward Alexandre Meres. That margin held up through halftime as freshman netminder Milo Paci made four saves.

The Buffs (5-6-4, 3-2-3) quickly pulled even when play resumed as senior forward Quintin Benn-John found the back of the net in the 50th minute, and they took the lead 13 minutes later as Landais assisted on a goal by senior midfielder Theo Bennetts.

WT, which beat ENMU 3-1 in a non-league match at Steve Loy Stadium on Sept. 12 and is now 25-3-4 all-time in the series, outshot the Hounds on goal 13-6 while ENMU held a 7-5 margin in corner kicks. Paci finished the night with nine saves.

The loss was costly in the Hounds’ bid to make the upcoming six-team LSC tournament. They dropped into a tie for seventh with Lubbock Christian (5-6-5, 2-4-3), each with nine points, with two matches to play.

Meantime, the Buffs moved into a tie for fourth with Dallas Baptist (4-4-7, 3-2-3).

ENMU faced second-place Midwestern State at home on Saturday night, and closes the regular season at LCU on Wednesday night.

Oklahoma Christian 3, ENMU 0 (volleyball, Wednesday) – The Hounds pushed OC (17-8, 6-5) a bit before falling 25-20, 25-18, 25-23 at Edmond.

Three-time LSC freshman of the week outside hitter Chloe Jones paced OC with 15 kills and nine digs. Sophomore middle blocker Lauren Cary added nine kills and five blocks (two solos), while junior setter Sophie Mae Smith posted 21 assists and senior Lauren McClure added 18.

Sophomore outside hitter/middle blocker Sophia Valdez of Roswell posted a match-high 17 kills for the Hounds, tying her season best. Freshman setter Cayla Reyes earned a double-double with 34 assists and 12 digs, while senior middle blocker Randi Crandall of Dora added nine kills and two blocks (one solo).

ENMU erased a 4-1 deficit and led 18-14 late in the first set before four kills from Jones led the Eagles on a game-ending 11-2 surge. After OC controlled Game 2, the Hounds again put together a rally in the third set, transforming an 8-2 deficit into a 22-20 advantage, only to see the home side finish it off with five of the last six points.

The Eagles, who tied their second-best LSC win total since joining the conference in 2020, finished off a 7-1 homestand and have won eight of their last nine overall.

ENMU entertained Sul Ross State on Saturday. They travel to Texas A&M-Kingsville on Friday and Texas A&M International on Saturday in their final road outings of the season.