RICHARDSON, Texas — St. Edward's women's soccer extended its unbeaten streak to three matches Wednesday night, battling UT Dallas to a scoreless draw behind six saves from DARIA SCHLUMBOHM and another strong defensive performance at the UTD Soccer Complex.
The Hilltoppers have now posted three consecutive shutouts, holding opponents scoreless for 270 minutes while collecting seven of nine possible Lone Star Conference points during that stretch. St. Edward's moves to 3-7-4 overall and 3-4-3 in conference play, continuing its push toward postseason contention.
After collecting consecutive victories over Eastern New Mexico and UT Permian Basin, St. Edward's faced a different challenge against a UT Dallas team that entered the match with eight victories and 15 points in conference play.
Both defenses controlled the opening half, combining to allow just three shots and none on goal. The Hilltoppers limited the Comets to one attempt while generating two of their own.
RILEY SISSON produced the first opportunity in the 19th minute, having a shot blocked before St. Edward's earned its first corner kick. JORJA BRAGG, who scored the game-winning goal against UT Permian Basin and had found the net in consecutive matches, sent an attempt wide left in the 32nd minute.
St. Edward's defensive organization repeatedly disrupted the Comets' attacking movement, catching UT Dallas offside five times in the opening half. The Hilltoppers entered halftime having conceded just one shot, an attempt by Avery Riley that missed wide right in the 26th minute.
The match changed after halftime as UT Dallas increased its attacking pressure, generating eight shots over the final 45 minutes. Schlumbohm responded with a series of saves to preserve the scoreless draw.
The senior goalkeeper made her first stop against Jules Chavez just 82 seconds into the second half. Ella Spiller tested Schlumbohm in the 54th minute, followed by Abby Hendy three minutes later.
Schlumbohm continued holding firm through the Comets' most sustained attacking stretch, stopping another attempt from Spiller in the 61st minute before turning away Kira Schkade in the 66th.
St. Edward's gradually worked its way back into the attacking third. TRULY CUEVAS sent an attempt wide right in the 71st minute, and MACY JENNINGS produced the Hilltoppers' lone shot on goal in the 78th, forcing UT Dallas goalkeeper Melyna Martinez into a save.
The Hilltoppers increased their attacking urgency over the final seven minutes, with MADISON CRESWELL generating three shots. UT Dallas defenders blocked attempts in the 84th and 86th minutes, preventing St. Edward's from putting either on frame.
The Comets nearly broke through in the 88th minute when Spiller forced Schlumbohm into her sixth save. Spiller collected another opportunity immediately afterward, but the Hilltopper defense blocked the follow-up attempt.
St. Edward's had the final scoring opportunity in the 90th minute when Creswell's third attempt was blocked, preserving the scoreless result.
UT Dallas finished with a 9-7 advantage in shots, including a 6-1 edge in shots on goal. Creswell led the Hilltoppers with three attempts, while Spiller paced the Comets with five.
Schlumbohm played all 90 minutes to record her third consecutive shutout, making all six saves in the second half. St. Edward's defensive line also caught UT Dallas offside eight times, preventing the Comets from capitalizing on several attacking runs.
The draw extends St. Edward's unbeaten streak to three matches and gives the Hilltoppers 12 conference points as they continue their push toward the Lone Star Conference Tournament.
