HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Prairie View A&M sophomore keeper
Bianca Garza played as close to perfect as she could get for the Lady Panthers in the team's 1-0 loss to Sam Houston State on Friday night.
In the 80th minute, however, Sam Houston State scored on a controversial technicality to take a decisive 1-0 lead. Bearkats freshman Ashley Alonzo got past Prairie View A&M's back line and shot the ball, which Garza deflected to the bottom of the cross bar. The ball then bounced towards the goal line and was cleared by Lady Panthers midfielder
Navyd Diaz. The shot was scored as a goal after a moment of hesitation by the referee. The ball must clear the entire line to be counted as a goal, and it was a close call.
Garza finished the game with seven saves off of eight shots on goal by Sam Houston State. With 50 seconds left in the match senior midfielder
Katherine Sheppard took a shot to tie the game, but it was stopped by Bearkats keeper Michele McCullough. The Lady Panthers then sprung a fast break as time expired, but junior midfielder
Angie Guillory couldn't get the shot off in time.
In the first period, Prairie View A&M played the aggressor, outshooting Sam Houston State five to three with the score tied at zero. The Panthers benefited from the attacking play of Sheppard and midfielders Guillory and
Kara Ballard.
Guillory took two shots, with one shot on goal. Sheppard put constant pressure on the Lady Bearkats defense and took two shots. Ballard used her speed to blast past defenders and spur a couple of fast breaks. She finished the first half with one shot on goal.
Despite their efforts, however, the Panthers couldn't manage to get a ball past Sam Houston State keeper McCullough. She had two saves. Lady Panthers sophomore keeper
Bianca Garza had one save in the first half.
Prairie View A&M will hit the road to play Louisiana-Lafayette on Friday, Aug. 24 in Lafayette, La.
