The Eastern New Mexico women’s soccer team challenged No. 17 West Texas A&M by scoring a late goal, but ultimately fell in a 2-1 decision to the Lady Buffs on Wednesday night at Greyhound Stadium.

In the first half, Eastern (5-5-2, 3-3-1 Lone Star Conference) controlled the pace with solid ball control and a strong defense that limited the Lady Buffs (11-1-1, 6-0-1 LSC) to just three shots, placing only one on-goal. However, the Hounds could not penetrate through a strong WTAMU defense as well as they managed just two shots, putting one on-goal.

The Lady Buffs would strike first at the 54 minute mark of the second half as Sarah Silvestre’s corner kick from the left side sailed past Hounds goalkeeper Taylor Jackson to give West Texas A&M the 1-nil advantage.

WTAMU managed to expand its lead in the 75th minute as Hannah Kelley-Lusk’s initial shot off a corner kick was blocked, but she found the back of the net off her own rebound to make it a two-goal advantage for the Lady Buffs.

Jackson made three big saves for the Hounds in the ensuing minutes before Eastern would get on the scoreboard. In the 85th minute, sophomore defender Charlotte Collins-Blaize found junior Madison Luttrell on the right side and her shot from 35 yards out sailed out just out of the reach of the WTAMU goalkeeper for her first goal of her Greyhounds career, cutting the Eastern deficit to 2-1.

However, the Hounds could not muster another shot for an equalizer in the final five minutes and the Lady Buffs held on for the win.

The Lady Buffs outshot Eastern 12-5 in the match, including a 9-3 edge in the second half. Six of the Lady Buffs nine second half shots were placed on-goal.

Luttrell’s lone goal led the offensive efforts for the Greyhounds and the assist from Collins-Blaize was her first of the season. Jackson finished with five saves in-goal, her third-highest single match saves total since tallying eight against Texas Woman’s back on Sept. 23.

The Greyhounds will look to bounce back on Friday when they host Midwestern State for a noon match at Greyhound Stadium.