DALLAS – SARAH GUNDERSON broke a 1-1 tie by scoring two goals in the final 10 minutes of the game to lead No. 2 seed St. Edward's to a 3-1 win over third-seeded Lubbock Christian in the Lone Star Conference Tournament semifinals Friday night at Patriot Field.
The Hilltoppers (13-5-2) will play top-seeded Dallas Baptist in the LSC championship match on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
St. Edward's took a 1-0 lead in the 38th minute, as
ASHLEY WILSON took a pass from
SARAH PRESTON and then beat the keeper with a ball that stayed on the ground and hit off the near post and into the back of the net.
The Hilltoppers held the one-goal advantage until the 79th minute, when the Lady Chaps netted an equalizer.
Celia Duarte lined up for a corner kick that
ANNABEL SWEENEY could only get a couple fingertips on. The ball carried just over the line where
CHIDERA ARIRIGUZO attempted to clear it. Play continued for a few seconds before the center official was alerted by an assistant referee that the ball went over the line.
Meanwhile, St. Edward's turned on the offensive pressure and struck with the go-ahead goal in the 82nd minute.
INDIA WENTZ had the ball on the far sideline and then used a step-over move to make space before playing a beautiful pass to the middle of the box. Gunderson was waiting in the box for Wentz's service and she headed it straight to the back of the net.
Eight minutes later, Gunderson was at it again. This time, she took a feed from Preston and then made her way through three defenders before taking a left-footed shot that went past the goalkeeper to give SEU a 3-1 advantage.
The Hilltoppers posted an 11-7 edge in total shot attempts, including a 7-2 margin in shots on goal.
Sweeney made one save in goal for St. Edward's.
Sunday's tournament championship is a rematch of last year's Heartland Conference final, which took place in Austin. DBU claimed the tournament title after advancing on penalty kicks. However, the two teams played to a scoreless draw earlier this season, as Sweeney posted a clean sheet on Halloween in Dallas.
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