Nov. 4, 2007

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EDMOND, Okla. - The West Texas A&M women's soccer team scored twice in just over three minutes in the first half to beat regular season champion No. 12 Central Oklahoma, 2-1, in the Lone Star Conference Tournament Championship on Sunday afternoon. Junior Danea Fontana scored the game-winning goal in the 44th minute as the Lady Buffs came back from an early 1-0 deficit to win the tournament title.

With the win, WTAMU becomes the first-ever sixth-seed to win the LSC Championship and clinches the fourth LSC title in the program's 12-year history, its first since 2003.

Sophomore Miriam Dominguez scored the Lady Buffs' first goal against the Bronchos and was recognized as the LSC Tournament MVP after the win. Dominguez scored WT's second goal against Angelo State in the first round of the tournament to tie the game and force overtime; the Lady Buffs went on to win in a shootout and advance to the semi-finals.

UCO's Kasey Mahaffey scored first in the 29th minute with an assist from Carmen Davis, but Dominguez equalized the match at 40:08. The El Paso, Texas, native attacked on a breakaway off of a thrown-in and her shot beat the Bronchos' Carly Fischer, recently named LSC Defensive Player of the Year, to the far post.

Fontana scored just 3:05 later when sophomore Adi Stein fed her the ball and her shot deflected off of a UCO defender to find the back of the net, putting WT ahead, 2-1, just before halftime.

The second half saw both teams play much more physically as WT defended their one-goal lead; Central Oklahoma was whistled for six fouls while the Lady Buffs were called for nine.

West Texas A&M's defense, led by junior Jessica Hartley and freshman Taylor Cromeens, stood strong in back, allowing just four UCO shots in the second half. Sophomore Lisha Jungmann also made a stand in front of the net, stopping six shots on goal in 90:00 minutes of play.

Dominguez, Stein and Cromeens, along with sophomores Kayla Sisco and Jenelle Nedd, were named to the All-Tournament team for their outstanding play during the tournament. Dominguez scored twice and Stein dished out two assists, while Sisco and Nedd were key play makers. Cromeens was a force on the defensive side of the ball, helping the Lady Buffs hold their opponents to just three goals.

West Texas A&M, tied for seventh in the Midwest Region, beat two regionally ranked opponents during the LSC Tournament in No. 5 Midwestern State and No. 3 Central Oklahoma. With the championship victory, the Lady Buffs earned the LSC's automatic bid into the NCAA Division II national tournament which starts on Friday.