Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Lady Buffs turn back Hounds

West Texas A&M spoiled the Lone Star Conference opener for the Eastern New Mexico University women's soccer team on Wednesday, handing the Greyhounds a 2-0 loss at Steve Loy Family Foundation Field.

ENMU (1-3-1, 0-1 LSC) took a season-best 17 shots overall, with five on goal for the second-most in a match this season, but the Greyhounds were unable to penetrate WT senior goalkeeper Reagan Heelan and the Lady Buffs' defense despite having a number of quality chances to score.

WT (4-2, 1-0) broke through when sophomore midfielder Avery Putnam notched her third goal of the season in the 12th minute, taking a throw-in and firing her shot past ENMU freshman goalkeeper Rosie Willmott Joyce.

In the 56th minute, WT sophomore defender Bailey Malone sent a ball ahead to junior defender Emily McGuire, who got past two ENMU defenders and worked her way around Willmott Joyce to punch the ball into an open net.

Willmott Joyce recorded two saves in goal for the Hounds, while Reagan finished with five stops.

ENMU returned to action on Saturday with a conference match at Sul Ross State. The Hounds' next outing comes on Wednesday in a 6 p.m. (MDT) conference match at Lubbock Christian.

Volleyball – ENMU also opened conference play on Thursday with a matchup against Texas-Permian Basin at Odessa, and the Hounds absorbed a 25-16, 25-13, 25-13 spanking at the hands of the Falcons, snapping a two-match winning streak.

Meantime, UTPB (9-3) extended its winning streak to eight matches, and also recorded its eighth win in a row over the Hounds since a 25-15, 25-17, 25-19 setback to ENMU at Greyhound Arena in September 2018.

Permian Basin played a near-perfect match along the front row with just three attack errors all night. Senior middle Hitter Chyra Thompson and sophomore outside hitter Kennedi Wright both had nine kills for the Falcons.

Wright and senior defensive specialist Gabby Gregorski each had 11 digs while junior setter Jenna Gray posted 16 assists and six digs.

Sophomore outside hitter Sophia Valdez posted eight kills for the Hounds, while junior libero/defensive specialist Imahni Brown had 10 digs and freshman setter Cayla Reyes had 13 assists.

ENMU traveled to Western New Mexico on Saturday for a conference dual. This weekend, the Hounds host Lubbock Christian on Friday night and 14th-ranked Angelo State on Saturday in LSC matchups at Steve Loy Family Foundation Arena.