By Wes Bloomquist  ||  wes.bloomquist@angelo.edu

SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State soccer team continued its home dominance with a 2-1 Lone Star Conference win over Eastern New Mexico on Friday with goals from Sierra Anderson and Ashley Exford at the ASU Soccer Complex.

The Rambelles (11-3-1, 4-3-1 LSC) improved to 8-0-1 at home this season with the victory and moved into sole possession of second place in the conference standings with 13 points which trails only Texas A&M-Commerce's 15 points. ASU, which had lost its last three games after starting the season with 10 wins and one draw, finished the game with a 20-8 shot advantage and squared the season series against the Zias who had won a 2-0 decision in Portales, New Mexico two weeks ago.

"We worked really hard this week in practice and were ready to put the losses behind us," Exford said. "We played with a lot of composure and confidence throughout the game. It was our goal to win every ball in the cross area and I think we did a good job with that. We really just wanted to get back to our routine and get back to playing like we know we can."

Anderson scored her team-leading eighth goal of the season with an 18th minute goal off a double assist from Loni Byers and Tiffany Dang and the Rambelles took the 1-0 lead into halftime. The assist on Anderson's goal was Dang's fifth and Byers' fourth of the season. Five minutes into the second half, ENMU was called for a handball within the penalty area setting up a penalty kick for the Rambelles. Exford stepped up to take the shot, despite the intention of the ASU coaching staff.

"I actually told Ashley to tell Elizabeth (Rodriguez) to take the penalty, but all she heard was take the shot," ASU head coach Travis McCorkle said. "Ashley stepped up and took a great shot, so it turned out the way we wanted it to."

Exford's penalty shot conversion is ASU's fifth penalty-kick goal of the season on six opportunities.

"I was just telling myself to stay calm and be confident," Exford said. "I'm not always confident on penalty kicks, but I was there because I settled down and I knew what I had to do."

ENMU cut the 2-0 lead in half with a 68th minute goal from Victoria Perez who flicked a hard shot from Alysia Carrasco into the ASU net. The goal eliminated the shutout, but ASU was able to stand strong the final 22 minutes to block out equalizing chances.

"I thought we did a good job of passing the ball around," ASU head coach Travis McCorkle said. "I also thought our defenders were able to win headers and get possession back. Those were the keys to us winning this game."

Anderson led the Rambelles with five shots, including four on goal and Kathleen Keoughan, Cynthia Andrews and Dakota Briseno added two shots. ASU goalkeeper Shantel Wittke recorded four saves against the Zias in 90 minutes of play and moved her individual record to 9-3-1 on the season.  

The Rambelles return to action at 1 p.m. on Sunday against West Texas A&M at the ASU Soccer Complex in their regular-season home finale. Brittany Martinez, Brianne Brown and Caitlyn Conaway will be honored before the game during a Senior Day ceremony.