SAN ANGELO, Texas (Nov. 5) – The TWU soccer team shutout Eastern New Mexico, 1-0, in the first round of the Lone Star Conference Championship Tournament.  The Pioneers will advance to the semifinals for the third time in five trips to tournament.
 
The Pioneers dominated the entire games as they outshot Eastern New Mexico, 19-6, including, 8-4, in shots on goal.  TWU also had a 6-4 advantage in corner kicks.
 
The only score of the game came early in the game at 21:52 mark on freshman Ashley Bishop's third goals of the season.  Sophomore Rachel Rupp was credited with the assist after Bishop found the far post off a rebound.
 
Senior Ariana Morrison played all 90 minutes in the net and face four shots on goal.  She stopped all four shots to record her fourth shutout of the season.  Sophomore Megan Coppedge led the Pioneers with four shots while junior Nancy Chavez and freshman Brittany Jones had three shots each.
 
"We started out slow but the girls got together and worked some things out to get a goal," said TWU head coach Babak Abouzar.  "We should have had two or three goals in the first half but we didn't finish the opportunities we created.  When it's only a one-goal game, a little mistake can easily tie the game.  Credit the girls for making sure that Eastern didn't get any easy opportunities and for posting a shutout."
 
TWU has won all three games against the Greyhounds this season.  The Pioneers are now 11-6-2 on the season and 3-4 in the postseason.
 
The Pioneers will now face the No. 2 seed Texas A&M-Commerce in the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 6 at 5:00 p.m. at ASU Soccer Field.  The Lions received a bye in the first round along with the top seed Angelo State.  During the regular season TWU and A&M-Commerce played to a 2-2 tie when they met in Denton but the Lions captured a 4-1 win in the game played in Commerce, TX.
 
"Now it's all about recovery," Abouzar said.  "We have little less than 24 hours to get ready against Commerce.  This is our opportunity to advance to the finals for the first time and also move up in the regional rankings."
 
The Pioneers and A&M-Commerce will meet for the fourth time in the LSC Championship Tournament but for the first time in semifinals.  In the previous three meeting both teams faced each other in the first round and all three games were settled on penalty kicks.  TWU owns a 2-1 record against the Lions in the LSC Tournament.