Women's Soccer's Comeback Falls Short

SAN ANTONIO — Despite some great looks late, the St. Mary's University Women's Soccer team could not complete the comeback against Texas A&M International on Wednesday evening, dropping a 3-2 decision.
 
Both sophomore sensations Shelby Paniagua (Cibolo, Texas) and Sydney Varela (El Paso, Texas) scored a goal. Paniagua put the Rattlers (6-3-5, 5-2-1 Lone Star Conference) on the board first with her sixth goal in the 20th minute.
 
The Dustdevils (5-3-5, 3-2-3 Lone Star) answered with a score by Lucia Cuadra in the 24th minute and the game remained knotted the remainder of the half.
 
The Rattlers came out much more aggressive in the second half, but TAMIU broke the tie with a shot that ricocheted off keeper Rebecca Difronzo's hands, hit the crossbar and fell in.
 
A similar goal gave the Devils the lead in the 73rd minute as Sammy Hecht scored her second goal off a ricochet.
 
In the 80th minute, Paniagua took a corner from the far corner that was kicked around in the box and finally found the back of the goal off Varela's right foot for the 3-2 tally.
 
St. Mary's tallied five corner kicks in the contest, compared to two for TAMIU, and both teams recorded 13 shots. Difronzo added five saves on the night.
 
St. Mary's travels to Oklahoma City for a 1 p.m. kick at Oklahoma Christian on Saturday. The Eagles defeated Eastern New Mexico 3-1 on Wednesday.