Box Score

EDMOND (Oct. 10) – Central Oklahoma survived an opening-minute scare before putting the defensive clamps on Eastern New Mexico and the Bronchos used a late score to pull out a 1-0 Lone Star Conference victory Friday afternoon at wind-swept Tom Thompson Field.

UCO didn't break a scoreless deadlock until Ashton Morris' close-range goal in the 81st minute, with the Bronchos easily holding off the Zias the rest of the way to wrap up their 26th consecutive regular-season league win.

It was the fourth straight victory – and third shutout in a row -- for UCO, which improved to 8-2-2 overall and 3-0 in the LSC heading into Sunday's 1 p.m. home showdown with West Texas A&M. The Lady Buffs (10-1-1, 4-0) routed Southwestern Oklahoma 4-0 Friday.

“We didn't play very well, particularly offensively, but we found a way to win and that's what counts,” UCO coach Mike Cook said. “It will be a big game Sunday and we're going to have to be ready to play.”

ENMU nearly shocked the Bronchos in the first 20 seconds of the game, moving quickly downfield after the kickoff before missing a wide-open header from right in front of the goal. UCO didn't another shot until early in the second half as Alli Miller, McKenzie Caldwell and Kelsey Springstead controlled the defensive end.

The Zias got off their last two shots of the game in the first five minutes of the second half, but freshman Samantha Rusk made a pair of nice saves en route to completing her third straight shutout between the posts.

UCO didn't get its first shot on goal until the 75th minute when ENMU goalkeeper Sierra Cardenas stopped a Katelyn Cropp bullet and Cardenas saved the Zias again 30 seconds later on a shot by Meghan Saliba.

The Bronchos finally broke through with just 9:28 left to play when Morris fired in a shot from right in front of the goal after taking a pass from Stephanie Lovely. UCO threatened twice more the rest of the way, but the 1-0 lead easily stood up for the win.