COMMERCE, Texas – The Angelo State women's soccer team closed out the regular season with a 1-0 victory over Texas A&M-Commerce on Sunday afternoon in Commerce.
The Belles (11-6-1, 7-5 LSC) beat Texas A&M-Commerce (13-5, 9-3 LSC) for the first time since Oct. 3, 2014 and won their first game in Commerce since Oct. 4, 2013. Both teams took 10 shots apiece while ASU had five shots on goal.
"I think it was an important win for us," Angelo State head soccer coach Travis McCorkle. "For our younger players to see the commitment it takes to win this type of game they were able to see it first-hand. They were able to see how hard we have to play to win every match. The win is important for us as a program. We needed to build confidence in ourselves and see the ability to impact play regardless of who we were playing. Our ability to do that was really important today."
Angelo State secured its first shutout since holding TWU without a goal on Oct. 9. Goalkeeper Sammy Cude made four saves for her seventh shutout of the season.
"Sammy (Cude) made some great decisions and is really improving her communication," McCorkle said. "I think she took a step today being the organizer and telling the defenders to clear out."
The backline of Ashley Exford, Callie Smith, Shay Williams, Kylie Deel and Molly Warren blocked one shot and limited TAMUC to just three shots in the first half.
"I think we did a good job of limiting some of TAMUC's services into the penalty area," McCorkle said. "I thought our midfielders did a good job of winning their headers. We were able to win the second ball and clear it out limiting and it was a big key to the match."
The game-winning goal came in the 30th minute of the first half. Callie Smith set the ball into the penalty area and Elizabeth Rodriguez won a header to keep the ball alive. Demi Tsambasis used a header off a post that bounced in the net. It is the senior's 13th goal of the season and sixth game-winner of the season.
The Belles will now set their sights on the LSC Tournament Championship. ASU will face Texas Woman's in the quarterfinals on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in Commerce, Texas.
