WOMEN'S SOCCER: Howard Payne edges LeTourneau 1-0
By W. Alan Wiederhold
Sports Information Director
LeTourneau University
BROWNWOOD, Texas – The Howard Payne Yellow Jackets prevailed 1-0 in a hard-fought contest Saturday over the visiting YellowJackets of LeTourneau in a match that took five and half hours to complete due to lightning.
As a result of the frequent lightning stoppages, the final whistle did not sound until 7:30 p.m. The men's soccer game between Howard Payne and LeTourneau that was set to follow was cancelled.
Leslie Jones' goal in the 69th minute proved to be the difference as Howard Payne improved to 3-1 on the season. Linsey Reed provided the assist.
Freshman player Stormie Goodwin made her second start in goal for LeTourneau and kept her Jackets team in the game, making eight saves in 74 minutes of action.
Though Howard Payne outshot LeTourneau in the contest, the visitors' defensive effort made offense a struggle for the hometown Yellow Jackets. Less than half of Howard Payne's 21 shots were on target.
LeTourneau came close to grabbing the early lead shortly after halftime when Jody Lang (Bandon, Ore./Pacific HS) fired a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that was turned away by Adrienne Walker in the 46th minute.
Walker was tested by the LeTourneau Jackets again in the 85th minute when she turned aside a shot from Amanda De Leon (College Station, Texas/A&M Consolidated) from 18 yards out.
In spite of coming up short on the scoreboard, LeTourneau head coach David Plunk was pleased with his team's play and display of teamwork. "It was probably the best game we played this season," Plunk said after the match.
The LeTourneau YellowJackets will be at home for their upcoming contests next weekend. The Jackets host Schreiner on Friday in the first match to played on the Jackets renovated home field. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
