PORTALES, N.M. – Sierra Anderson scored the early goal that the Angelo State soccer team has been looking for and the Rambelles earned the win they needed with a 1-0 Lone Star Conference victory over Eastern New Mexico on Sunday at the ENMU Soccer Field.

The Rambelles (5-4-1, 3-2-1 LSC) got on the scoreboard quickly with Anderson scoring in the sixth minute of play off a drop-kick assist from goalkeeper Danielle Edwards and continued playing strong defense to record the team's third shutout of the season and second in conference play. The win stopped a two-game losing streak for the Rambelles and evens their conference road record at 2-2-0.

“Scoring early was all the difference in the world and why we got the win,” ASU head coach Travis McCorkle said. “We have been struggling to get early goals and Sierra took advantage of her chance. We had more chances throughout the game, but when you score early you give yourself a better opportunity to win and that's what we did.”

Anderson, a freshman from Wichita Falls, scored her second goal of the season for the Rambelles, while goalkeeper Danielle Edwards made five saves in the win. Edwards, who recorded her career's first assist, now has 36 saves this season in just over 939 minutes of play in goal.

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Angelo State, which has now scored three first-half goals, outshot the Zias 16-11 in the game including coming out with an offensive mindset with 11 shots in the opening session. Anderson led ASU with four shots with Hanna Horeis adding three and Ashley Exford, Teegan Courtney and Maggie Schaffer two each.

“We had some issues on defense in the first half that we usually don't have,” McCorkle said. “They played well enough in the first half not to allow a goal, but they really stepped it up in the second half. We were much better about winning balls when they tried to put it over the top and in space. We had some close moments but we stayed strong.”

Xan Ortiz had four saves for ENMU (4-7, 3-4 LSC), while Danielle Thurman led the Zias with six shots.

McCorkle, who spent five years as the ENMU head coach before coming to ASU, is now 4-2-0 against his former school while Angelo State improved to 7-4-0 all-time against the Zias.

The Rambelles return to action at 4 p.m. on Wednesday against Incarnate Word at the ASU Soccer Field before also hosting Texas Woman's on Friday (4 p.m.) and Texas A&M-Commerce next Sunday (1 p.m.).

“It's going to test the depth of our team to play three games in five days,” McCorkle said. “This is a long stretch, but we are at home which should help. We can finally spend a weekend at home and our girls are excited about it.”