ENMU roundup

JOPLIN, Mo. — Freshman forward Albert Robinson scored an unassisted goal about five minutes into the second half Saturday and Eastern New Mexico University’s men made it stand up for a 1-0 win over Missouri Southern in a Southwest Soccer Conference match.

The Greyhounds (4-5-1, 2-4 SSC) took 19 shots in the game, five by Robinson, to 11 for the Lions. ENMU had an 8-6 advantage over MSSU in shots on goal.

Sophomore goalkeeper Leif Craddock had six saves for ENMU.

On Friday, the Hounds were beaten by Northeastern State 1-0 at Tahlequah, Okla. It was their second consecutive loss by that score.

Sergio Salinas tallied NSU’s only goal in the 32nd minute on a crossing pass assist from Malvern Ntini.

The Redmen (6-2-0, 3-2-0 SSC) outshot Eastern 20-3 for the game, including 8-1 in shots on goal. Craddock collected six saves.

Cross country — ENMU’s men finished third out of seven teams while the women were seventh out of nine in an invitational hosted by New Mexico Highlands in what Eastern coach Joel McMullen said were “extremely muddy” conditions at Las Vegas, N.M.

Highlands took the men’s team title with 47 points to 84 for Colorado College and 88 for the Greyhounds, who were without sophomore Orlando Hernandez (pneumonia), normally their top runner.

Sophomore Orlando Sanchez led the Hounds with a time of 29 minutes even over the 8-kilometer course, while freshman Jason Garcia was 16th in 29:04 and junior Pat McGuire 21st in 29:18.

“The guys ran fantastic; it was great to see,” McMullen said. “If Ricardo had been able to run, I think we would’ve taken second.”

The women’s team struggled, finishing with 162 points to beat out only Fort Lewis and Dine Community College. Colorado College won with 35 points, followed by South Plains College with 63.

McMullen said Lynnae Chavez (26th in 23:35 over 5K) and Laura Roberts (28th in 23:47) ran well, but overall it was not a good performance for the Zias.

“I was disappointed with the girls,” he said. “We just did not perform up to par. I don’t know what happened.”

Volleyball — ENMU went 2-1 for the weekend in a Lone Star Conference crossover tournament at Abilene, Texas, capping it with a 30-27, 30-9, 30-22 rout of Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday afternoon.

Anna Bellum led three players in double figures in kills for the Zias (11-3) with 13, while junior Olivia Boan posted team highs of three service aces and 11 digs. Colleen Favaro had nine kills for the Lions (2-12).

Earlier, the Zias had a seven-match winning streak snapped in a 30-28, 30-27, 25-30, 19-30, 15-13 loss to Midwestern State on Friday before coming back to beat Texas Woman’s 30-20, 30-19, 27-30, 30-22 on Saturday morning.

MSU evened up the three-game season series with the Zias, although the Lady Indians nearly blew a 2-0 lead. Abbi Meyer had 25 kills for Midwestern (8-7), which lost earlier this month in three games at Portales and hosts the Zias on Monday night.

Bellum collected 22 kills and 20 digs for Eastern.

The Zias were in control most of the way against TWU (8-7), getting 16 kills from Lindsay Schiely, 15 kills and 21 digs from Bellum and eight kills, two block solos and nine block assists from Grace George.