Zias clinch third in LSC; Hounds win

PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico University women’s soccer team clinched third place in the Lone Star Conference on Sunday, beating Angelo State 1-0 at the ENMU soccer pitch.

The Zias (8-5-3, 6-3-3), with matches remaining at West Texas A&M on Friday and at Midwestern State on Sunday, will finish ahead of Angelo State (6-9-2, 5-6-2) and Texas A&M-Commerce (7-8-2, 6-9-2). They can catch MSU (10-4-2, 8-3-1) for second and earn a first-round bye in the upcoming six-team LSC tournament by winning both matches if conference-leading Abilene Christian (15-0-1, 11-0-1) wins or ties on Friday night at MSU.

Sophomore midfielder Gerilyn Armijo scored the only goal of the match, her first of the season, on an assist from freshman midfielder Angela Sandoval with just over 13 1/2 minutes to go in the first half.

Senior goalkeeper Sierra Cardenas broke her own school single-season shutout record with her sixth, recording five saves against the Rambelles. It was ENMU’s first home win over ASU since 2006.

ENMU men 2, Northeastern State 1 — At Tahlequah, Okla., the Greyhounds began a rough finishing stretch by avenging a non-league loss to the RiverHawks earlier this season in Portales.

Junior midfielder Diego Santos scored his second goal of the season three minutes into the second half to snap a 1-1 tie.

Junior midfielder Andy Wilkinson put the Greyhounds (8-3-4) in front in the 20th minute, taking a through pass from sophomore midfielder Julian Roberts. The RiverHawks (9-3-3) tied it with a goal from Michael Wilson with about five minutes left in the half.

ENMU, looking to qualify for the NCAA Division II tournament for the first time, hosts non-league Fort Hays State on Friday, then takes a 3-0-1 LSC record against top-ranked Incarnate Word (10-2-1, 2-1-1) on Sunday at home with a chance to wrap up the conference title. The teams played to a 1-1 tie earlier in San Antonio.

The final regular-season match is on Nov. 4 at second-ranked Midwestern State (10-3-1, 1-3-1), which blanked UIW 3-0 at home on Friday night. ENMU beat the Mustangs 2-1 earlier in Portales.