[Students] 11/14 WSOC: A&M-Commerce Women's Soccer Team Wins NCAA First Round Game

[Daniel Kambel]

Junior Meagan Lasley scored her 20th goal of the 2008 season to lead the
Texas A&M University-Commerce women¹s soccer team to a 1-0 win over
Nebraska-Omaha in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday.
 
The Mesquite, Texas native took on the UNO defender and cut to her right and
drilled the ball to the far post in the lower left corner in the 23rd minute
for her fourth game-winning goal of the season.
 
³Once we got the lead, we made the decision to get more defensive. It just
happened to work out for us today,² said head coach Neil Piper.
 
Finding themselves behind in the final three minutes of the contest, the
Mavericks packed in their offensive attack against the Lions including the
goalkeeper. The best UNO attempt at the equalizer came in the 87th minute
when a Jessica Powers¹ shot hit the crossbar. The A&M-Commerce defense rose
to the occasion and clinched the win.
 
The A&M-Commerce attack was out shot by a 14-to-6 margin; however, junior
goalkeeper Taylor Jordan kept the Mavericks off the scoreboard with six
saves for her fifth shutout of the season.
 
³We all stepped up and played our game. We wanted it and it showed,² said an
excited Lasley. 
 
A&M-Commerce (15-3-3) advances to the second round for the second time in
school history. In 1999, in a field of 16, the Lions advanced to the Elite
Eight round after winning its first round game.
 
In the second round, the Lions will face MIAA regular season champion and
host Central Missouri at 1 pm. A&M-Commerce has faced UCM in one prior
meeting in 2001. In the final regular season NSCAA/adidas Division II
rankings, the Jennies are No. 9.