DENTON, Texas (Oct. 15, 2023) - A goal from Dani Pruitt gives the Texas Woman's soccer team the victory against UT Permian Basin and positions them at the top of the Lone Star Conference standings with only four regular season games left this season.
Pruitt scored her first career goal in Odessa, Texas against UTPB in the 14th minute of the match. Her goal gave TWU their fifth conference win this season, and it was the only goal of the game.
"I am proud of how our team got three points on the road today," TWU Head Coach Babak Abouzar said. "UTPB is a difficult rival to play. Although we didn't play as well as we would have liked, we showed a lot of resiliency today, and that shows the makeup of this team. We've been telling our team to follow all shots and balls to the goal, and it was great to see we had several players do that. Dani was there to capitalize on the great ball from Bailee Radney."
Today's result marks the tenth shutout game for the Pioneers who currently are 5-1-2 in conference play. TWU continues to be among the top of the table in goals against average in the NCAA Division II with only three goals allowed in 13 games. They also lead this category in the LSC.
Even though the Pioneers showed to be superior and have control of the game, it was a complicated match in terms of possession of the ball and opportunities created. The Falcons recorded seven shots on goal, but only two of those were on target. Meanwhile, the Pioneers had five shots and four shots on goal.
Pruitt's goal in the 14th minute was the first real opportunity for either team. UTPB recorded a couple of shots in the sixth minute, but they were nothing to worry about for Amanda Farris, TWU's goalkeeper.
The game-winning goal came from a free kick opportunity the Pioneers had about 35 yards out. Radney was in charge of taking the free kick that bounced a couple of meters in front of the Falcons' keeper, Valeria Delgado. The ball hit the top goal post and landed in front of Pruitt and Kaylee Smith. Both players were ready to finish the play, but it was Pruitt who sent the ball to the back of the net with her right foot.
Pruitt is the ninth freshman to score for the Pioneers this season. This year's freshmen are responsible for 17 of 20 goals scored so far this season, which shows the bright future this team has in front of them.
The Pioneers had another opportunity in the first half of the match in the 31st minute. Rachel Ryter sent a ball on target to the bottom right that ended in Delgado's hands.
In the second half of the match, UTPB recorded only one more shot on goal that Farris had no problem getting to and controlling.
Alyssa Striker, who recorded three shots total and two shots on goal this match, has a total of 22 shots on goal this season which positions her third in the LSC - only behind two players from Texas A&M International, Krysan St. Louis and Lucia Cuadra.
TWU's defensive back line minimized the Falcon's shots so successfully that Farris was only tested twice in 180 minutes.
Farris continues to be the top LSC goalkeeper and leads them in goals against average (.216), saves (.932) and shutouts per game (.714). She is also the third best keeper in the NCAA Division II in the same category. She is the only LSC goalkeeper to make it in the top 50th of that list.
With tonight's shutout game, Farris is now tied with Jazmine Maxwell for TWU's shutout games record in one season. Maxwell recorded ten shutouts in 2018.
"We have played multiple games a week all season long, so this week it will be nice to not have a Wednesday game, reset and rest a little bit before the crucial game at WT," Coach Abouzar said.
With only four matches left of conference play, the Pioneers will continue their road-trip with a visit to West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas. This next game will take place next Saturday, Oct. 21 at 5 p.m.
- PIONEERS -
