ENMU women earn 1-1 draw at Texas-Tyler

TYLER, Texas – Senior midfielder Nina Ballesteros scored in the fifth minute and, despite being outshot 25-7 overall and 8-3 on goal, Eastern New Mexico University managed to hang on to a 1-1 tie against Texas-Tyler on Saturday in Lone Star Conference women’s soccer.

Ballesteros intercepted a pass from Tyler goalkeeper Daniella Wilken and knocked it in from the left side for her second tally of the year. It was the fastest goal of the season for the Hounds, who have played to draws in four of their eight matches (1-3-4, 0-1-1 LSC).

The Patriots (2-2-3, 0-1-1) got the equalizer when sophomore forward Brooke Mullins took a cross pass from senior midfielder Sydnee Garner and headed it past ENMU keeper Samantha Jeffries. Both teams had chances in the remaining time but could not convert.

Jeffries finished the contest with seven saves. The Hounds are now 2-0-2 all-time against the Patriots, with both ties coming in Tyler.

Next up for ENMU is another road trip, this one to Wichita Falls to face Midwestern State in a 4 p.m. (MDT) league tilt on Wednesday.

Lions sweep ENMU in volleyball – Arkansas-Fort Smith pulled out two close sets, then breezed in the third to complete a 25-22, 26-24, 25-16 LSC volleyball sweep of the Greyhounds on Saturday at Fort Smith.

Sophomore outside hitter/defensive specialist Caelyn Gunn posted a double-double for UAFS (10-3, 2-0 LSC) with 10 kills and 10 digs. She was one of four Lions with double-figure digs, led by senior outside hitter Paola Fragalle with 17, while senior setter Chloe Price finished with 27 set assists.

For the Hounds (8-7, 0-2), who also lost 3-0 on Friday night at Oklahoma Christian, senior middle blocker Gracelyn Stubbs posted a double-double, combining five kills, 10 digs, 11 assists and seven total blocks (two solos), while senior outside hitter Mikaela Garvin collected a match-high 14 digs and four block assists. Senior libero Getsemani Carrasco had 15 digs, and sophomore setter Kayla Ison finished with 11 assists.

The first two sets were back-and-forth. In Game 1, UAFS opened a six-point lead, but ENMU rallied to within 23-22 before the Lions closed it out on a Hounds attack error and an ace by Price.

ENMU then erased a 12-4 deficit in Game 2, pulling even with a 9-1 surge. The Hounds inched ahead briefly 23-22 before Fort Smith claimed four of the final five points.

This weekend, the Hounds return to Greyhound Arena for LSC tilts against Texas-Tyler at 6 p.m. on Friday and Dallas Baptist at 2 p.m. on Saturday.