Published: April 23, 2009 05:55 pm      

A&M-C women battle Techsters in scrimmage

GREENVILLE — Missed scoring opportunities haunted the Texas A&M University-Commerce Lions in a 1-0 exhibition soccer loss to Louisiana Tech on Saturday in Greenville.

“That’s the name of the game,” said Lions coach Neil Piper. “When you don’t take the lead it will come back to haunt you. We created a few chances.”

Louisiana Tech goalkeeper Cat Buchanan turned away several shots by A&M-Commerce’s Meagan Lasley and Chelsey Haight.

A&M-Commerce’s NCAA Division II Lions kept the Division I Lady Techsters scoreless for 57 minutes until Chelsea White booted in a deflected shot off a corner kick for the game’s only score. Lion goalkeeper Taylor Jordan turned away a close shot by Louisiana Tech’s Olivia Lukasewich as Lion defender Emma Stubblefield raced in to help.

But White slipped the rebound past Jordan and Stubblefield into the back of the net with about 33 minutes left in the contest. A&M-Commerce could not match that goal.

A&M-Commerce controlled the tempo in the first half, spending much of the time in the Lady Techsters’ end of the field though Buchanan kept the Lions out of the net.

“Louisiana Tech, they had a long bus ride,” said Piper. “They played more possession.”

The Lady Techsters controlled the action for much of the second half, especially after the lone goal.

The exhibition game was definitely good for the Lions, according to Piper.

“We’ll try to correct some deficiencies,” he said. “You do these games for a reason.”

A&M-Commerce returns a strong group off last year’s 16-4-3 team that went two rounds in the Division II tournament. Lasley led the Lions last season with 20 goals and 12 assists while Haight managed 10 goals and four assists.

The Lions will also bringing in eight new recruits.

“We’ve got two or three that should make an impact,” said Piper.

Louisiana Tech’s program is on the upswing under coach Kevin Sherry, going 10-5-5 last season after winning only two games in 2007.