WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Olivia Okoye scored twice, pulling the Mustangs even with St. Mary's on both occasions, but the Rattlers struck twice in a nine-minute span of the second half, and held off MSU at Stang Park on Saturday afternoon, 4-3.
Midwestern State created some early chances, but it was Shelby Paniagua who scored the first goal in the 9th minute, assisted by Juni Ejere to give the Rattlers a 1-0 lead until the final minute of the first half.
MSU goalkeeper
Lexi Jackson drove the ball into St. Mary's territory.
Jadyn Lopez was able to win the ball at the top of the penalty arc and send a through ball to Okoye, who tucked a low shot inside the near post past a diving Rebecca Difronzo to tie the match, 1-1.
St. Mary's started the second half with high energy, and reclaimed the lead in the 47th minute. Tori Permillion launched a strike over Jackson from the right wing and found the far-side netting to reclaim the lead for the Rattlers with her first goal of the season.
Cassidy Savoy avoided a sliding tackle in the 55th minute as she entered the penalty area on the right side. Savoy sent the ball inside the six-yard box, where Okoye directed it inside the near post to tie the match, 2-2. Savoy earned her first assist of the season.
St. Mary's took the lead for good when Valerie Hover put the ball in the path of Juni Ejere up the right side. Ejere struck the ball from just outside the goal box and netted her eighth goal of the season as the Rattlers claimed a 3-2 lead.
Megan Copeland scored on a free kick in the 72nd minute after
Nicole Marsolek was shown a yellow card. Marsolek grabbed and spun Bella Brigman, who won a close race to a ball sent into space on the right side by Love' Tovar. Copeland took the free kick and went for goal from the right touchline. The successful strike gave the Rattlers a two-goal advantage.
With less than four minutes remaining,
Brynn Covington scored her fourth goal in four appearances for the Mustangs. A throw into the area from the left corner was headed by Bella Cruz. A deflection by a St. Mary's defender landed at the feet of Covington, who struck with the left foot to bring MSU within a goal.
A positive result eluded the Mustangs, who failed to score in the final 3:42. MSU is 3-3 overall with a 1-1 record in the Lone Star Conference. St. Mary's rebounded from its first loss of the season and improved to 7-1 with a 1-1 conference record.
Midwestern State faces Southwestern Oklahoma on Tuesday at Stang Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
--MSU Mustangs.com--
