ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' Cowgirl soccer team defeated the Mary Hardin-Baylor Cru 1-0 in the American Southwest Conference Championship game on Saturday night at the HSU Soccer Complex.
After falling to UMHB 1-0 in the regular season match a few weeks ago, the Cowgirls had been waiting to play the undefeated Cru and got their rematch in the ASC Tournament Championship match.
The two contenders played up to the challenge in the match, with a Cowgirl would-be goal upended from an offside call being the closest chance of the scoreless first half.
The difference came in the 61
st minute when the Cowgirls got the ball to
Kaylee Maddox near the edge of the box.
The senior Maddox got some space and shot off her left foot into the back of the net over the outstretched keeper for a beautiful game-winning goal.
The Cowgirls held the 1-0 lead for the win in the ASC Championship match and punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament. The Cowgirls have now won 25 ASC Championships, leading the conference.
Hardin-Simmons had 19 shots and five on goal to 11 shots and five on goal for UMHB.
Haley Foley had five saves in the shutout win for the Cowgirls.
HSU had four players named to the ASC all-tournament team,
Haley Foley,
Mercy Mummert,
Lauren Stengel, and the tournament MVP
Kaylee Maddox.
The Cowgirls improve to 16-1-2 on the season and will head to the NCAA Championship Tournament, with the NCAA selection show on Monday at 12:30 p.m. to see who the Cowgirls will match up against next week.
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