ODESSA, Texas (November 7, 2024) – The University of Texas Permian Basin women's soccer team lost its last match of the year with a 1-0 decision against St. Mary's University on Thursday night at the UTPB Soccer Field.

The lone goal of the match came via a penalty kick by STMU's Valerie Hover in the 67th minute.

It was the second penalty kick goal surrendered by the Falcons this season while for STMU, Hover became the first Rattler other than Shelby Paniagua to attempt a PK, nailing the shot into the left corner of the goal to give STMU the much-needed win. The shot improves the Rattlers to 6-for-6 on penalty kicks this season. The Rattlers also take over the nation's lead in most made penalty kicks as they entered the night tied with Franklin Pierce at 5-for-5.

The Rattlers remain unbeaten this season when they score, posting a 9-0-2 record when finding the back of the net. STMU also finished the regular season in fourth place in the Lone Star Conference standings (9-6-3 overall, 7-4-2 LSC). The Rattlers are winners of three of their final four matches in the regular season and now must wait until Friday evening to find out seeding for the Lone Star Conference Tournament.

UTPB outshot STMU 7-4 in a scoreless first half and 9-7 for the match, but six of the Rattler's seven attempts were on target, comparing to just three shots on goal by the Falcons. The windy conditions limited shots, but STMU senior goalkeeper Rebecca Difronzo stopped all three shots on goal by UTPB.

Cassandra Ramirez led the Falcons with a match-high three shots in the season finale while Laura Perez and Natalia Salas both added two.

Paula Camus made a career-high five saves in goal and in her three starts to close out the season, allowed just one goal in two of those matches.

Less than six minutes into the match, STMU took the first shot on goal of the match on a free kick from 35 yards out, and Camus was up to the challenge and made the stop.

Then after two more shots on goal for both teams in the first half, it was STMU that came out attacking in the second half, forcing back-to-back saves by Camus in the 50th and 56th minutes before the penalty kick goal came over 10 minutes later.

UTPB's only attempts in the second half came on a high shot by Ramirez in the 69th minute and a saved shot by Kristel Chaves to the bottom center of the goal in the 80th minute.

UTPB finished the season with a record of 4-10-3 overall and 2-9-2 in the Lone Star Conference. The Falcons have accumulated 13 overall wins and seven conference wins in three seasons under Head Coach Carla Tejas.

Unfortunately, the Falcons failed to score in each of their final five matches of the season after a 1-1 tie against Angelo State University on October 23.

UT Permian Basin has concluded the 2024 season and will be back in action next Fall.