THE RUNDOWN
Top-ranked DBU (6-0-1) made a statement on Saturday with a 2-0 shutout win over No. 10 West Texas A&M (7-1). The Patriot defense blanketed the nation's ninth-best offense, holding the Lady Buffs to a single shot on goal, and second-half strikes from Sophia Schrock and Michelle Gonzalez "Marta" took down a WT defense that had previously surrendered just one goal all season. 

Schrock remarked postgame that the team's communication was "the best it's ever been." That communication was on full display in DBU's dominant defensive performance. WT's leading scorer, Maria-Frances Serrant, recorded the Lady Buffs' only shot on goal in the fifth minute. Serrant would muster just one more shot the rest of the game as the Patriots forced the ball off her foot every time she crossed midfield. 

Although DBU dominated the box score at halftime, outshooting WT 7-2, the match hung in the balance as both squads returned to the pitch in a scoreless stalemate. The game swung DBU's way in the 50th minute when Annie Severide found the foot of Schrock, who fired a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that snuck into the top corner of the net. 

Marta secured the win in the 81st minute when she dropped WT goalkeeper Reagan Heelan with a dribble move that pulled her out of the net for the game's second goal. 

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 
-DBU ends West Texas A&M's seven-game win streak and wins its sixth straight over the Lady Buffs.
- Angelina Olmos made the first start of her DBU career.
- The Patriots get their third win over schools now ranked in the top 25. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 
3 - Maria-Frances Serrant and Asha James have scored a combined 19 goals in the first seven games; the duo was held to three shots on Saturday.
20 - Goalkeeper Adrianna Schroeder gets her 20th win in the net, the fourth-most in DBU history. 
7 - The Patriots forced seven corner kicks and allowed the Lady Buffs none. 

UP NEXT 
No. 1 DBU stays on the Hilltop to host Texas Woman's on Wednesday, September 28.