San Antonio – Emilie Snelson’s goal with 1:57 left to play was the difference as St. Mary’s University rallied to defeat the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, 2-1, in Heartland Conference women’s soccer action Friday afternoon at St. Mary’s University Soccer Field.

After a scoreless first half that saw just seven shots combined between the two teams, the action picked up significantly in the second half. In the 59th minute Kelly Wallace dribbled down the right flank and sent a high, arcing shot that went over the head of Rattler goalkeeper Roxana Carrasco’s (Fr., San Antonio) head and into the back of the net for a 1-0 Falcon lead.

The goal seemed to fire up the Rattlers as it took just 15 seconds for St. Mary’s to respond. Marcey Morales (Sr., Lytle) sent a pass up the sideline to Amanda McMullan (Sr., Allen), who crossed the ball to the far side of the penalty area where Michelle Ornelas (Jr., Fort Worth) one-touched the ball in for the tying goal.

That was where things stood for the next 30 minutes until McMullan nearly single-handedly won the game. McMullan blocked a pass attempt by the Falcons and recovered the loose ball, dribbled into the penalty area, then sent a cross to the far side of the box where Snelson (Fr., Fairview) was waiting and took the pass, cracking it into the net with just 1:57 left to play for the win.

UTPB outshot the Rattlers 17-14, but the Rattlers took the same number of shots on goal, six, as the Falcons. Carrasco made five saves in picking up the win in goal for the Rattlers.

With the win the Rattlers have now won three of their last four games and are 4-11-1 overall, 3-6 in Heartland Conference play. UTPB fell to 7-9-2, 3-3-1. St. Mary’s will wrap up their home schedule on Sunday when they host Newman University at noon in the first game of a men’s/women’s doubleheader.

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