DENTON, Texas  - TWU traveled to Wichita Falls Friday to face Lone Star Conference opponent MSU Texas and came away with a point in the league standings as the game ended in a scoreless tie. The Pioneers were coming off a short rest having played at home on Wednesday.

"It's tough to play Wednesday and then turn around and play Friday when the other team hasn't played since Sunday," Head coach Babak Abouzar said. 

The Pioneers set the tone early as they have been doing in these conference games, getting four shots off in the first 12 minutes of play.  Sophomore Haley Ward, who is ranked second in the LSC in shots and shots per game, took four of the Pioneers' eight shots in the first half. The Mustangs tried to match the Pioneers' offense early, sending five attempts at a goal in the first period, but their momentum slowed as the game wore on.

TWU (5-5-2, 2-2-2 LSC) had help from its defense as well with freshman goalkeeper Jasmine Maxwell having to make only four saves in the 110 minutes of play and none in the two overtime periods. 

"Jasmine Maxwell did a really good job of coming off her line and disrupting some through balls that were very dangerous," Abouzar said. "I think our whole back line did a really good job."

By the end of the second half, neither team had managed to find the back of the net, despite three corner kicks by freshman Riley Sutton in the last two minutes of regulation.

"Riley had a great shot that the keeper had to tip over for a corner kick," Abouzar said. "I think that was one of our quality chances in this game, we just didn't execute."

The Pioneers were in control during both overtime periods, with senior Brittany Jones, sophomores Lexi D'Abrosca and Kaylee Rekieta, and senior Lauren Neely all taking shots.

"I think all of our forwards, Ward, Rekieta, Neely and Sutton, were doing a really good job of getting behind their back line and getting services and crosses off," Abouzar said. "We just failed to get that last piece."

Ward, who is also sixth in the league in goals, sent in a total six shots, three on goal. Neely came in second with two shots, both of which were saved by MSU keeper McKenna Williams.  

"I think it shows the resilience and the effort of our players and that's big," Abouzar said. "We'll regroup. We're at the midway point of conference, and see what we can do in these last six games."

The Pioneers get a week off before coming back next Friday to face UT Permian Basin at 7 p.m. in Odessa.