Angelo State University Athletics

By Wes Bloomquist  ||  wes.bloomquist@angelo.edu

CANYON – Angelo State foward Sierra Anderson scored two goals and the Rambelle defense recorded its seventh straight shutout in a 2-0 Lone Star Conference win over West Texas A&M on Friday at The Pitch.

The No. 8-ranked Rambelles (10-0-1, 3-0-1 LSC) have not allowed a goal in the past 751 minutes of play and matched the all-time program record with nine shutouts on the season. ASU goalkeeper Shantel Wittke recorded her seventh shutout of the season and finished the game with three saves with the strong defensive presence of Ashley Exford, Caitlyn Conaway, Kathleen Keoughan and Selena Alvarez helping to limit the Lady Buffs to eight total shots in the game.

"We got the shutout because our entire team put the effort in like we always do," said Wittke, who was named the LSC Defender of the Week on Wednesday. "Conaway and Ashley did a great job in the back on defense. Ashley did a great job of winning balls and was always getting back to stop them."

Anderson scored a goal in each half, striking first in the 39th minute of play and then putting the contest away with another goal in the 86th minute. Anderson's first goal came off an assist from Haley Mendel, while her second goal was unassisted against the Lady Buffs (5-7, 1-3 LSC).

"It means a lot to me to be able to score for our team," said Anderson, who was named the LSC Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday. "They played me good balls and I just put it in. I've really been concentrating on not overthinking it when I get in the penalty box and scoring range. I've tried not to think about where to place the ball or how hard to shoot, but more on just on playing my game."

Anderson and Mendel now both lead the team with seven goals this season after Anderson's second two-goal game of the season. She now has 16 goals in her career after scoring four goals in the past four games. Brianne Brown added two shots in the game with Mendel, Elizabeth Rodriguez and Keoughan having one shot each. Mendel's assist was her fourth of the season which gives her a team-leading 18 points on the season. She is currently tied with Tiffany Dang for the team lead in assists.

ASU's nine shutouts this season matches the all-time program record which was also accomplished in the 2003, 2008 and 2010 seasons and the 10 wins is the 10th double-digit win total in the 20 years of program history. The team has now record 10 wins or more in six of seven seasons under head coach Travis McCorkle. Wittke, who has seven of the nine ASU shutouts this season, is now only two shutouts away from matching Melanie Peterson who had nine shutouts in the 2010 season where the Belles advanced to the NCAA Division II South Central Championships for the first time in program history.

Angelo State returns to action at 2 p.m. (CT) on Sunday with another LSC game against Eastern New Mexico in Portales, New Mexico. The Zias will be coming off a 1-3 loss to Midwestern State after their Friday night game.