Box Score

BROWNWOOD, TX:  The Texas Wesleyan University women's soccer team (1-0) opened the 2014 season with a 3-0 win at Howard Payne University (0-1) on Saturday. 
 
With the victory the Rams improved to 6-0-1 on opening day in the last seven years, and 6-2-1 during head coach Josh Gibbs' tenure.
 
The Lady Rams put HPU goalkeeper Shelby Spaulding under pressure early.  Paige Wheaton got a shot off just over a minute into the contest, and Spalding had to save a blast from Sandra Villarreal in the opening minutes.
 
Brianna Wilson later hit the crossbar, but the game remained scoreless until the 25th minute, when Villarreal fed Shrareh Asadi on the left wing for the season's first goal.
 
The Lady Ram defense allowed only three shots in the first half and Nikki Lockwood needed just one save to hold the score at 1-0 at the break.
 
In spite of the first half effort, the Yellowjackets came out firing in the second half, still very much in the game.  Lockwood stopped a shot from Taylor Bicknell just over a minute in.  HPU then got a free kick and a corner kick before Lockwood was called to action again in the 58th and 64th minutes.
 
The Rams regrouped however, and Asadi got a shot from close range in the 79th minute.  In the ensuing action, the Rams were awarded a penalty kick and Alexis Michaelkovich stretched the lead to 2-0.
 
In the 85th minute, Villarreal put the game out of reach with an unassisted strike from the far left wing.
 
"We got the win, but could have played much better today," commented head coach Josh Gibbs.  "We have work to do moving forward and now the focus turns to preparing for Abilene Christian on Sunday."
 
For the game, Texas Wesleyan outshot Howard Payne 15-8.  Michaelkovich led the way with five shots, while Wheaton, Villarreal, and Asadi each took three.
 
Lockwood made four saves to preserve the shutout, the eighth of the sophomore keeper's career.  Three HPU keepers combined to make four saves.
 
Texas Wesleyan will host NCAA Division I Southland Conference member Abilene Christian University at Martin Field on Sunday, August 31.  That contest is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start.  Texas Wesleyan and Abilene Christian have only one previous meeting in women's soccer.  The Wildcats defeated the Lady Rams 1-0 to begin the 2007 season.