Cougars deal ENMU 1-0 loss

PORTALES — Junior forward Saige Stock converted a goal off sophomore defender Taya Starnes’ free kick nearly 58 minutes in, Colorado Christian’s only shot on goal of the match, and it was enough to give the Cougars a 1-0 win over Eastern New Mexico University in a women’s soccer match on Sunday at Greyhound Stadium.

ENMU (1-1), playing the second of five consecutive matches against Colorado-based Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schools to begin the season, dominated much of the way. The Greyhounds, though, were unable to slip a shot past CCU freshman goalkeeper Keeley Kroonenberg, who made seven saves and earned the victory in her first collegiate start.

Sophomore midfielder Salena Casias had four of the shots on goal for the Hounds, who blanked Colorado State-Pueblo 2-0 in their opener on Thursday.

Colorado Christian (1-1) opened the season with a 5-1 setback to Angelo State, also on Thursday, at San Angelo, Texas.

All-time, ENMU holds a 3-2 series lead over CCU. It was the team’s first meeting since 2009, when the Cougars notched a 1-0 win over the Hounds at Lakewood, Colo.

Friday, ENMU plays on the road for the first time when it takes on Western Colorado in a 3 p.m. clash at Gunnison, Colo.

Volleyball team falls in finale — ENMU’s volleyball squad fell to 0-4 for the young season with a 25-11, 25-16, 25-18 setback against Wayne State (Neb.) on Saturday afternoon to complete play in the season-opening, two-day Patriot Invitational, hosted by Dallas Baptist.

Earlier, the Hounds dropped matches to Arkansas Tech and Dallas Baptist on Friday, and to Westminster (Utah) on Saturday morning.

Senior outside hitter Jasmine Gannon and freshman outside hitter Mikaela Garvin led ENMU with seven kills, while Gannon added nine digs and sophomore setter Qitana Sapiga notched 12 assists and six digs.

For the Wildcats (3-0), sophomore outside hitter Kelsie Cada had 13 kills and sophomore setter Rachel Walker contributed 30 assists.

Wayne broke away from a 4-4 tie in Game 1 with runs of 7-0 and 9-0, the latter including two kills each from Cada and freshman outside hitter Taya Beller, to take a 22-7 advantage. The Wildcats scored the first four points in the second set and steadily pulled away, finishing in on a kill by sophomore outside hitter Elly Larson on set point.

A kill by freshman outside hitter Kali Nelson and an ace by Sapiga put the Hounds up at the start of Game 3. The teams stayed tight until the Wildcats went on a 6-1 run late to pull in front 23-16.

ENMU will be in Wichita Falls, Texas this weekend for Midwestern State’s Hampton Inn-vitational. The Hounds will again play four matches, including contests against Lone Star Conference foes Texas A&M-Kingsville and MSU and a rematch against Arkansas Tech.