BUDA, Texas – St. Edward's University Women's Soccer earned a critical win in conference play on Sunday as they took down Lubbock Christian at Bob Shelton Stadium on the campus of Hays High School.
 
Heavy rain over the weekend forced the game to be moved from Saturday to Sunday and then relocated to Buda, Texas, but the Hilltoppers were left unfazed. Goals from GRACEN JACKS and WHYTNEIGH DUFFIE, an assist from JENNIFER BOUDREAU, and a shutout from LORRIE SANTOY helped the Toppers improve to 11-3 overall and 5-1 in the Heartland Conference.
 
The unassisted goal for Jacks is her first of the season and sixth of her career. Duffie's goal is her third this year and the assist from Boudreau is her fourth this fall.
 
"I thought our team adjusted really well. This field is long and narrow, and the turf gives a different bounce to the ball," said head coach Nick Cowell. "We are really happy with the way we played, especially in the first half playing against the wind. We told the team we'd be happy at halftime being up 1-0 or tied at 0-0, and then we would try and beat them with the wind in the second half; so we were happy with the way that we played."
 
With the wind gusting from the northwest to open the game, St. Edward's faced an uphill battle. In order to overcome their disadvantage coach Cowell pushed his defensive line to midfield as a way to limit the space Lubbock Christian had to play the ball. The Hilltopper's strategy appeared to be golden as the home team struck first in in the 16'.  Jacks received the ball just past the 50-yard line and finished a long run into the Lady Chap's penalty area with a shot to the back post.
 
Santoy remained unchallenged into the 20^' when she made back-to-back saves, maintaining the Hilltopper's one-goal advantage. Both teams would use a myriad of substitutions in an effort to remain fresh, but the score would stay the same as the first half came to a close.
 
In the second half St. Edward's continued to press and it saw results immediately. With less than two minutes off the clock a scorching shot from Boudreau was stopped by LCU, but Duffie was there for the rebound, giving the home team a 2-0 advantage. The Hilltoppers were unable to convert on a trio of corner kicks, but it would not matter. Santoy was called to action just once in the second period to save the shutout. With the clock at 00:00 she would record her eighth shutout of the season.
 
The win moves St. Edward's into a tie for second with St. Mary's in the Heartland Conference standings, just one point behind Dallas Baptist. Coach Cowell and his team return to action this Thursday at 3:30 p.m. against Texas A&M International on Lewis-Chen Family Field. Live stats and video for the match can be found online at GoHilltoppers.com.