SAN ANTONIO — The St. Mary's University Women's Soccer team started Lone Star Conference play with a bang, defeating Sul Ross State 7-1 on Wednesday night in the league opener for both teams.
Three different Rattlers recorded a brace, as junior
Shelby Paniagua (Cibolo, Texas), sophomore
Malia Dominguez (Helotes, Texas) and freshman
Anabelle Rodriguez (San Antonio) each scored two goals, while senior
Natalie Gonzalez (El Paso, Texas) scored once.
Paniagua added an assist for five points on the night, while freshman
Freya Hayes (The Woodlands, Texas) added two assists in her first collegiate action and senior
Laura Poole (Allen, Texas) recorded the other on a brilliant cross to Rodriguez in the 41st minute.
Both of Paniagua's goals came on penalty kicks in the first half, as she was fouled inside the box in the 22nd minute and hit the PK into the lower left portion of the net. Nine minutes later, and 90 seconds after Dominguez scored her first goal,
Sydney Varela (El Paso) was shoved over inside the box leading to Paniagua's second PK of the contest.
Sul Ross State (1-3-0) scored its lone goal in the 78th minute.
Senior goalkeepers
Rebecca Difronzo (Bari, Italy) and
Melida Garza (New Braunfels, Texas) each made one save as Difronzo was in net for 56:14 and Garza wrapped up the final 33:46.
The Rattlers (3-2-1) played 22 of the 25 on the roster in the lopsided victory. The team treks to Canyon to face West Texas A&M on Saturday at 7 p.m. The Lady Buffs defeated Eastern New Mexico 2-0 in their LSC opener.
