Published: November 19, 2008 11:56 pm      

A&M-Commerce opens play in Sweet 16 soccer

Texas A&M University-Commerce will make only its second appearance in the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 for women’s soccer today in Kirksville, Mo.

The 16-3-3 Lions will battle 16-3-2 Truman State (Mo.) at 1:30 p.m. at Truman Park. The game will be broadcast live on KETR-FM (88.9).

A&M-Commerce reached the Sweet 16 in 1999 when the tournament field consisted of 32 teams.

The field has since been expanded to 64 teams so the Lions had to win two matches to get this far. They opened the tournament in Warrensburg, Mo., last week with a 1-0 victory over Nebraska-Omaha and then blanked Central Missouri 2-0 in the second round.

Melissa DoRemus, the Lions’ only senior, produced a goal and an assist in the victory over Central Missouri. Whitney Hancock scored the Lions’ other goal.

Junior Meagan Lasley scored an unassisted goal during the Lions’ victory over Nebraska-Omaha.

Lasley leads the Lions for the season with 20 goals and 12 assists for 52 points.

Chelsey Haiaght has 10 goals and four assists, DoRemus owns six goals and five assists. Lacy Alexander has produced five goals and seven assists and Hancock has managed seven goals and one assist.

Lion goalkeeper Taylor Jordan has 98 saves for the season and has recorded six shutouts. Her goals allowed average is 0.45.

The host Bulldogs own an eight-game unbeaten streak dating back to a 1-0 loss to Southwest Baptist (Mo.) on Oct 11.

They advanced to the third round with a 1-0 blanking of Washburn (Kan.) on Sunday in Canyon.

Jessica Wiegert leads the Bulldogs with 10 goals and three assists. Riley Mahan has nine goals and three assists and Katie Reuck has produced eight goals and four assists.

Goalkeeper Denise Childress has 59 saves to go with five shutouts and her goals allowed average is 0.87.

The other third-round match features Western Washington (16-2-2) against Seattle Pacific (18-1-2) at 11 a.m. today in Kirksville.

The two third-round winners will meet at 1 p.m. Saturday for a shot in the Final Four in Tampa, Fla.