MARSHALL, Texas – It took just one goal and a brick wall defense as East Texas Baptist University opened American Southwest Conference play with a 1-0 victory over Howard Payne University. ETBU is now 3-3-1 and 1-0 in the ASC.
 
ETBU took 15 shots with eight on goal, balancing their offense with eight shots in the first period. Sarah Ramos, who scored the match's lone goal, had four shots with three on goal. Mallory Duncan posted two shots, and nine other players took one shot. Cadence Tischler recorded a shutout with two saves, facing seven shots overall.
 
Ramos connected on her second shot of the match in the 20^th minute for the 1-0 lead. Aleeya Pena came up the sideline and lofted the ball into the box, finding a fast-paced Ramos running into the box and connecting to the goal. ETBU had four shots on goal in the half, with two coming from Ramos, Duncan, and Pena taking one.
 
Nobody scored in the second half but ETBU took seven shots to HPU's four. Ramos had her third shot on goal in the 49^th minute as Giselle Laredo had one on goal in the 66^th minute. Analissa Guiterez and Hannah Purl had back-to-back shots on goal in the 84^th and 85^th minutes. Tischler stopped HPU's only shot on goal in the 78^th minute. HPU did make a last-second effort in the 87th minute, but the shot was wide.
 
ETBU will host Hardin-Simmons University on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in ASC action at Cornish Field.