Photo GalleryDALLAS, Texas – The St. Edward's Women's Soccer team looked to have its third-straight Heartland Conference Tournament Championship in hand, but a late second-half goal and overtime score by Dallas Baptist gave the Patriots a 2-1 victory Sunday afternoon at Patriot Soccer Field.
Dallas Baptist (13-3-3) was the early aggressor as it had three shots in the match's first three minutes. Hilltopper goalkeeper
LORRIE SANTOY turned away the last one with a save.
St. Edward's (13-5) started to get things clicking offensively in the fifth minute when they had its first cornerkick. Two more cornerkicks and their first shot around the 11-minute mark had the Hilltoppers pressing for a goal.
The Hilltoppers had their first shot on goal in the 28
th minute when
GRACEN JACKS sent in a shot. Patriot goalkeeper Jenna Ackerly made her first save keeping the game scoreless.
Finally, in the 40
th minute, St. Edward's broke through. Forward
JENNIFER BOUDREAU got past the Patriot defense and beat Ackerly one-on-one for her fourth goal of the season. That is the way the half would end.
In the second half, St. Edward's was looking for that game-clinching goal.
WHYTNEIGH DUFFIE and
KATIE DONAHUE both had excellent chances in the early minutes but Ackerly made the save both times. The best chance for the Hilltoppers came in the 72
nd minute. Boudreau, again, got behind the Patriot defense and was one-on-one with Ackerly. This time, Boudreau's shot went wide.
Quickly back on the other end, defender
VIKTORIA MALMROS was shielding the ball to roll over the end line when she was kicked from behind. No foul was called and the ball was said to go off of her. That gave the Patriots a cornerkick. On that kick, Santoy came off of her line to sky for the ball. She was knocked off her feet by a Patriot player and lost the ball. No foul was called and Lindsey Eccles pounced on the loose ball and put it in the net to tie the score.
With the game tied, that set up a furious rally attempt by the Hilltoppers. With 10 minutes remaining, St. Edward's had three cornerkicks and sent three shots at goal. Ackerly saved two and the other was blocked.
Dallas Baptist had one last push with 30 seconds remaining, but Ashley Cox's shot was saved by Santoy, and the match headed to overtime.
In the extra period, Dallas Baptist was whistled for two early fouls. In the 93
rd minute, Cox was at it again as she raced down the field. She would score her ninth goal of the season and end the match on the Golden Goal.
Dallas Baptist outshot St. Edward's, 10-9, with both teams having six shots on goal.
"First of all, I would like to congratulate Dallas Baptist," head coach Nick Cowell said. "They are a worthy opponent, and congrats to their coaching staff and players. Our team played as well as we have played all season against a tough opponent. We had numerous chances to finish the game off in the second half, but couldn't quite score that elusive second goal."
Cowell also had this to say about the game: "I am firm believer that this game shows us what we need to do to get better. Although, the ending of this game was brutally tough, if we get a chance at playing in the NCAA Tournament, I am confident that we will learn from this experience, and play at an even higher level."
Members of the All-Tournament include Hilltoppers, JULIA HARRISON, Boudreau, and Donahue. St. Edward's will now wait and see what its postseason schedule entails. The NCAA will have its Selection Show on NCAA.com Monday at 5:30 p.m. CST. St. Edward's is looking to qualify for the postseason for the seventh-straight season and ninth time in Cowell's 10 seasons at the helm.
