TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler scored an impressive 3-0 victory on Wednesday night over a St. Mary's squad that entered the night unbeaten in Lone Star Conference play.
The Patriots added a pair of goals in the first half to take a 2-0 advantage into the halftime break and then then leaned on a defensive effort that notched a clean sheet while adding a penalty kick goal late. All three scores came from a different Patriot, while freshman
Ella Anderson added two assists in the match.
UT Tyler moves to 6-1-1 on the year and 1-1-1 in Lone Star Conference play with the victory. St. Mary's entered the night having won their first two games in Lone Star Conference play and a 4-2-1 overall record.
Anderson touched a great ball onto the foot of
Natalie Jones to get the scoring started in the 25
th minute for UT Tyler. Jones converted her fifth goal of the year past the Rattler keeper on the fourth shot on target between the two sides of the opening 25 minutes of play.
UT Tyler added a key score just before the halftime break on a great combined effort in the St. Mary's box. Anderson maintained control of a
Jacqueline Wiebe cross with a physical touch on the opposite post that rattled off the knee of
Samaris Alvarado, onto the foot of
Launa Torrez and into the back of the net.
That Torrez volley with just over two minutes left in the first half allowed UT Tyler to focus on their defensive composure in the second half with the two-goal advantage in hand before
Brooke Mullins converted a penalty kick in the 80
th minute for the third and final score of the night.
Keeper
Emily Clark was class in net for the Patriots, totaling five saves on the night. The Patriot backline was rock solid against a St. Mary's side that entered the night with the second highest goal total in the conference.
UT Tyler out-shot St. Mary's by an 18-to-11 margin and put nine of their attempts on net. Jones put three of those attempts on goal to lead the way offensively.
Alvarado was credited with the third assist of the night alongside the pair from Anderson, while Jones, Torrez and Mullins all scored.
UT Tyler will head to Eastern New Mexico on Saturday afternoon for an 11:30 a.m. CST meeting.