Patriots Blank UTPB for First Real LSC Win

By CHASE UPTON/Sports Editor

TYLER, Texas — The University of Texas at Tyler women’s soccer team started off strong in Lone Star Conference play Wednesday night, shutting out The University of Texas Permian Basin 5-0 at Citizens 1st Bank-Perkins Soccer Complex.

With the win, the Patriots improved to 2-1-1 overall and 2-0 in LSC play after receiving a conference win by forfeit from Eastern New Mexico last Saturday.

Lexi Luff opened the scoring in the 14th minute, finishing a pass from Celine Diaz to give the Patriots an early 1-0 lead.

UT Tyler continued to pressure the Falcons and doubled its advantage in the 25th minute when Ella Anderson found the back of the net off an assist from Luff.

Danica Anaya added another goal just over two minutes later, scoring in the 27th minute on an assist from Quinn Wolfe to send the Patriots into halftime with a 3-0 lead.

The Falcons had an early opportunity after halftime, but goalkeeper Robbi Curry stopped UTPB’s Molly King’s shot less than a minute into the second half.

UT Tyler then put the match further out of reach in a two-minute stretch midway through the second half. Anderson scored her second goal of the night in the 64th minute, again with Luff providing the assist, and Katie Wong followed less than a minute later, scoring off a pass from Katelyn Odajima to make it 5-0.

The Patriots maintained control through the final 25 minutes, holding the Falcons scoreless to secure their second shutout of the season while outshooting UTPB 27-5.

Offensive balance once again proved to be a major strength for head coach Stefani Webb’s team, with four different Patriots finding the net. Nine different Patriots scored in the team’s previous home victory over East Central University, giving them 14 goals across their last two home matches.

“We don’t have one kid who you circle and say, we’ve got to defend her,” Webb said when asked about the team’s offensive balance,. “You have to defend us across the field.”