SAN ANGELO - The Angelo State soccer team did not have much of a break between its last match and its next one, as the Belles hit the road for a midweek matchup with the University of Texas-Permian Basin at 7 p.m. Wedneday, Cot. 19.
The Belles (9-4-1, 5-3-0 LSC) split their two weekend matches, defeating Eastern New Mexico on Friday before falling to West Texas A&M Sunday afternoon. ASU now sits at No. 3 in the conference standings behind Texas A&M-Commerce and WT.
"I think a lot of our younger players have gotten a lot of good experience," ASU head soccer coach Travis McCorkle said. "Our defense and attacking could both still use some improvement, and we've got four games left in the regular season to get all that solved."
ASU continued its strong defensive play at home during the weekend matches, giving up just two goals which raised their goals against average to .602. The Belles rank No. 33 overall in the category nationally and are still first in the conference.
The back line of Shay Williams, Ashley Exford, Lauren Perry, Callie Smith, Kylie Deel and Molly Warren shut out UTPB when the two teams faced off in San Angelo earlier this season and will look to do the same on Wednesday.
ASU's defense has only allowed double-digit shots from opponents in five games this season and only one team has out-shot the Belles.
Sammy Cude has played the majority of the minutes at goalkeeper this season, and the freshman has made 44 saves to aid the defense this season.
Offensively, the Belles reached their single-game season high in shots Friday against Eastern New Mexico with 34. ASU has gotten off more than twice as many shots as its opponents, out-shooting the opposition 282-122 so far this season.
Forward Demi Tsambasis leads the team in shots with 63 and has the most shots on goal as well with 34 for a shot-on-goal percentage of .540. The senior's 10 goals lead the team as well as the Lone Star Conference and rank No. 22 in the nation. Four of the California native's goals have been game-winners as well, which ranks first in the conference and No. 12 in the nation.
Freshman Trenadey Scott is second on the team in goals with three, and Ally Warren, Cynthia Andrews and Analise Watson are all tied for third with two apiece. Watson got the game-winner in overtime against Eastern New Mexico, winning a header off a corner kick just two minutes into the overtime period.
Sophomore Megan Allen had the assist on Watson's game-winning goal, and the midfielder also got her first goal of the season against the Greyhounds, scoring in the 75th minute. Allen is now tied for fourth no the team in goals with Tiffany Dang and Loni Byers who also have one each.
Elizabeth Rodiriguez and Morgan Sibson have also created chances for the Belles offensively, as Rodriguez has gotten off 29 shots and Sibson has had 24.
The win against ENMU also marked a milestone for ASU head coach Travis McCorkle, who earned his 100th victory at ASU. McCorkle was already the winningest coach in Angelo State history and he has led the Belles to two straight NCAA tournament appearances.
The Belles have already faced UTPB once this season, coming out on top, 3-0. The Falcons are currently 1-10-1 and 1-7-0 in LSC play this season.
"Realistically right now we're looking at second place in the conference as an objective," McCorkle said. "That would include a bye in the first round of the LSC tournament which is really helpful. Mainly though, we want to focus on short-term goals and winning each game so that we ensure our place in the Lone Star Conference Tournament."
