TYLER, TEXAS – The University of Texas at Tyler women's soccer team will take on a pair of key conference foes this week with matches at Texas A&M-Commerce on Friday night and at home on Saturday against #21 West Texas A&M.
 
The Patriots went 1-1 last week with a loss at home to #12 DBU and a road win against UT Permian Basin, a match in which UT Tyler posted their most goals ever in a Lone Star Conference match in the 5-0 win. This week's matches will pit the Patriots against a pair of LSC teams that have had quality history's within the league.
 
A LOOK BACK
 
UT Tyler held a 0-0 scoreless tie into the halftime break in their most recent home action last Wednesday against #12 DBU before three second half goals from the opposition brought the score to it's 3-0 final. The Patriots put all four of their shots on target in the match, and generated a couple of quality scoring opportunities.
 
Head coach Stefani Webb's team used that confidence in Saturday's trip to UT Permian Basin, and drew their conference record back to .500 on the year, and their overall record back over .500, with a 5-0 win against UT Permian Basin. The five goals were the most scored by a UT Tyler team against Lone Star Conference competition in the program's three seasons competing in the league, and came from the foot of five different goal scorers.
 
Brooklyn Robinson and Edina Cakic both scored their first goals as Patriots in the first half to build a 2-0 halftime lead, and then had three more goals added in the second half to move the sides overall record to 4-3 on the year, with a 2-2 mark in LSC play. Faith Adje, Emily Dress and Mallory Ingram were the second half goal scorers in the contest as the Patriots matched their season high in goals that they previously set back on Sept. 4 in a 5-0 road win against LSU Alexandria.
 
STILL SHOOTING WITH THE BEST
 
UT Tyler is ranked second in the LSC with an average of 19.57 shots per contest and 10.14 shots on goal in 2021. The Patriots have outshot every opponent except one this season, and have continued their offensive pressure in LSC play.
 
The five goals on Saturday against UT Permian Basin moved the team up the conference leaderboard with eight goals scored in conference play. UT Tyler ranks fourth with those eight goals scored in conference competition, and will need to continue to find the back of the net heading into this week's pair of games.
 
A LOG JAMMED CONFERENCE RACE
 
As assumed prior to the start of conference play, the LSC has been a tightly contested race through two weeks of matches around the league. No team completed the first two weeks with four wins, as Lubbock Christian currently sits atop the standings with 10 points through their first four games.
 
UT Tyler has accumulated six points with their wins against Texas A&M-International and UT Permian Basin, tying the Patriots for fourth in points up to this point. This week could provide the first real sign of separation in the race for the seven spots in the 2021 LSC Postseason Tournaments, and points for the Patriots against either Texas A&M-Commerce or West Texas A&M could jump the Patriots up into premium contention for their second appearance in the postseason tournament.
 
PATRIOT LEADERS
 
Adje and sophomore Sarah Flannelly currently pace the squad with two goals scored each so far in 2021, while Adje leads the team with six points. She has added two assists to her goals scored, and also leads UT Tyler with 16 shots on the year.
 
Adje is one of three freshman Patriots to reach double-digit shot totals for the year along with Vanessa Bart and Brooklyn Robinson. Sophomore Jordan Colbert has also reached the 10-plus shot mark in 2021 with 12 on the year.
 
A FRESHMAN IN GOAL
 
In a league known for offensive firepower, it is extremely rare to see a freshman in the Lone Star Conference jump in at the goalkeeper position and experience immediate success. Freshman Victoria Turner did just that last week for UT Tyler, earning her first two collegiate starts for the Patriots in the matches against DBU and UT Permian Basin.
 
Turner made six saves in each of those contests, and provided a solid compliment for returning starting keeper Camri Cecil. Cecil made the first five starts in goal in 2021 and made a total of 18 saves.
 
Having two capable keepers is a luxury that should bode coach Webb well as the lone LSC schedule continues on into this week.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS
 
UT Tyler will get week number three of the LSC schedule started tomorrow night on the road against Texas A&M-Commerce at 7 p.m. The Lions are 3-4-1 on the year with a 1-2 record in league play, but have captured eight Lone Star Conference titles and made eight NCAA Division II National Tournament appearances throughout the program's history.
 
Texas A&M-Commerce played just a single match last week, a 3-2 loss on the road at #21 West Texas A&M. The Lions two losses have both come against nationally-ranked opponents in LSC play in a 6-2 loss against #17 DBU and the aforementioned most recent defeat against West Texas A&M.
 
Freshman Karalie Morrison leads the Lions with six goals on the year, five of which have come in the most recent two matches for Texas A&M-Commerce. She put across a hat trick in the 8-0 Lion victory over UT Permian Basin on Sept. 25, and a pair of goals in the loss against West Texas A&M.
 
Texas A&M-Commerce has scored and allowed 20 goals on the year. The Patriots have dropped both prior meetings to the Lions in 2019 and 2020, both on the road by 4-3 and 2-1 final tallies.
 
SCOUTING THE LADY BUFFS
 
West Texas A&M enters the week as the league's highest scoring offense, totaling 30 goals on the year, and stayed at no. 21 in the latest NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Top 25 poll this week. The Lady Buffs are 2-1 on the year in LSC play, scoring a 6-0 win against UT Permian Basin on Sept. 22 and a 3-2 win on Saturday over Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
The Lady Buffs are scheduled to meet Lubbock Christian on Wednesday night on their home pitch prior to Saturday's meeting with UT Tyler.
 
 Hannah Kelley-Lusk and Asha Jones enter the week as the LSC's leading goal scorers with nine and seven on the year. The duo also leads the LSC with a combined 73 shots in 2021.
 
Saturday's match will be the first time West Texas A&M has visited UT Tyler on their home field, having notched 3-0 and 2-0 wins in 2020 and 2019 in Canyon, Texas.