The Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team is championship bound after a thrilling 3-2 win in overtime over the defending Southland Conference Champions and 2022 tournament host, Northwestern State Lady Demons, on Friday in the SLC Tournament Semifinals at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex.
Being outshot 27-11 in the match, the Lions held their own throughout the afternoon with Jen Peters (Allen) and Gillian McKenzie (Mesquite Horn) combining to make 13 saves. A&M-Commerce just had four shots on goal, but converted three of those to advance to the Southland Championship match against Lamar on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The win improves the Lion record to 9-8-2 on the season, guaranteeing a non-losing season in its first Division I campaign.
"What an incredible effort we got from our team today," said coach Ashley Gordon. "After going down 1-0 midway through the first half, our kids showed so much character as we climbed back into the game. We played a very talented Northwestern State squad today and we are thrilled with our result."
The Lions took the lead in the 69th minute with two goals in four minutes, but Northwestern State tied the match in the 79th minute on a penalty kick goal. Lauren Shaw (Livingston – Covenant Prep) gave the Lions a 3-2 lead in the 105th minute under the new overtime rules, where there is no golden goal.
Melissa Storey (Tyne and Wear, England) took a shot that went off the crossbar and right to Shaw, who had no other player in sight for the match-winning goal. Shaw earned the start on Friday.
LAUREN SHAW GOAL HIGHLIGHT
Both goals for Northwestern State came via SLC Player of the Year, Gracie Armstrong. Her first goal of the day was in the 30th minute and it was in open play, while her second goal, that tied the match in the 79th minute, was a penalty kick.
A&M-Commerce had just two shots in the first half, but it tied the match at one in the 66th minute on a goal from Mindy Shoffit (Wichita Falls – Rider), who headed in the corner kick from Ashley Campuzano (Dallas – Atlas Prep).
MINDY SHOFFIT GOAL HIGHLIGHT
Campuzano scored her second goal of the tournament in the 69th minute and it was one for the highlight reels. She took a free kick from about 30-yards out in the left corner, but with the wind behind it, the ball went over the reach of NSU's Chloe DeShazer for the goal. Campuzano has now scored in three straight matches.
ASHLEY CAMPUZANO GOAL HIGHLIGHT
The Lady Demons had the 12-2 edge in corner kicks, but the Lions did score off one of their two corner kicks. Armstrong had nine shots for the Lady Demons, while Campuzano had five of the 11 shots for the Lions.
Gordon added, "we defended very well in front of goal which proved to be the difference. Playing our way into the final is exciting but we feel we have more work to do, tonight and tomorrow we will rest and recover. Sunday we play for the championship."
Peters played the first half and had seven saves, while McKenzie had five shots in the rest of the match.
This is the first time the Lions are playing in a conference championship match since winning the Lone Star Conference Tournament in 2015 over West Texas A&M.
By the rules set forth in the Southland Conference Operating Manual at the beginning of the season, regardless of Sunday's result, Lamar is the conference's automatic qualifier into the NCAA Tournament as it was the regular season champion. A&M-Commerce is ineligible for NCAA Tournament participation during its four-year transition into becoming a full member of NCAA Division I.
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