University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Athletics

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Belton, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women’s soccer team could not hold on to a second-half lead and the Cru women fell to Southwestern University 3-2 in the 2010 season opener Wednesday afternoon in Belton. The UMHB women are now 0-1 to open the season. The Pirates are 1-0 on the year.

            UMHB wasted little time in grabbing a 1-0 lead. Erin Salyer lifted a pass from Angel Kemmerer past a diving goalie to give the Cru the lead 7:54 into the match. Southwestern fought back to tie the match when Paige Duggins headed home a pass from Jillian Curran at the 12:11 mark. The Cru would take the lead back early in the second half when Taylor Bullock scored off an assist from Lexy Smith 4:58 into the half to make it 2-1. The Pirates would score an equalizer when Laura Ornelas used Curran’s second assist to tie the game 77:56 into the match. The game-winning goal would come on a breakaway as Curran fed Danielle Madison with just 8:23 left to play to make it 3-2 Southwestern. The Cru would have chances to tie the match late, but Pirate goalkeeper Sarah Nonaka came up big with several key saves. Nonaka got a hand on a twisting long-range shot by UMHB’s Meredith Norman with 2:25 left and then turned aside two more Cru shots in the next few seconds to preserve the win.

            Meredith West and Erica Harris combined for three saves in goal for UMHB. Nonaka had seven saves for Southwestern. UMHB out shot the Pirates 19-13 in the game.

            The Cru women will now have almost a full week off before returning to action. UMHB will travel to San Antonio next Tuesday for a 7:00 PM start at Trinity University. The Cru women will then face Huston-Tillotson University at 7:00 PM next Friday night in Austin.