ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' Cowboy soccer team defeated LeTourneau 2-0 on Sunday afternoon to win the American Southwest Conference title for the tenth time in program history and the first time since 2014.
 
The Cowboys sent a ball into the box that a defender deflected back to Nick Ocasio, who finished it high for the first Cowboy goal in the 28^th minute for Ocasio's third goal this season.
 
In the 37^th minute, Jordan Garcia played a long ball that Jakob Fiol ran down and got past the opposing keeper to score and make it a 2-0 lead for HSU. Fiol now has eight goals on the year to lead the team.
 
The Cowboys were helped by the opponent, who played a man down after the 12^th minute due to a straight red card for denying a goal scoring opportunity. Hardin-Simmons held the 2-0 lead and won the tenth ASC championship in school history with the win.
 
The Cowboys led the Yellowjackets in shots 32-15 and shots on goal with a margin of 15-5. HSU led in corner kicks with 5-1.
 
Carson Null started in goal for the Cowboys and was forced to have a few incredible saves as LeTourneau did not go away quietly. Null finished with five saves in the shutout win, his sixth shutout and tenth win on the year in goal. LeTourneau goalie Edson Camara Martinez gave his team a chance to win with 12 saves.  
 
Cowboy senior Maxwell Winneker was named the most valuable player of the ASC tournament. Dylan Caudle, Brandon Krohn, and Daniel Villagomez were all named the ASC all-tournament team as well.
 
Cowboy head coach Brad Bankhead said earlier in the week that the goal for his team was to get back on the national stage, and they have done just that bringing home the ASC championship. HSU improves to 12-5-2 on the season and will head back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014.
 
Hardin-Simmons receives the automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament beginning next weekend. The bracket will be revealed on NCAA.com at 12:30 p.m. Monday.
 
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