Stephen F. Austin Blanks UTSA to Advance to Championship Match
NATCHITOCHES, La. - In the last semifinal match of the Southland Conference Women's Soccer Tournament at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex in Natchitoches, La., No. 1 seed Stephen F. Austin needed penalty kicks to get by No. 4 seed UTSA. The Ladyjacks record improves to 15-2-1 on the year while the Roadrunners finish the season at 9-9-2.
Stephen F. Austin struck for the tournament's first opening half goal in the 31st minute off a free kick from 25 yards. Sophomore midfielder Melissa Gaudet struck the free kick into the upper left of the goal out of the reach out goalkeeper Danielle Snyder.
The Ladyjacks increased their lead in the 68th minute when junior Kyle Louw, the 2011 player of the year, notched her conference record 14th assist of the year on the goal by senior forward Janae Lee, her seventh on the season. Louw also increased her conference leading career assist lead to 29.
Stephen F. Austin's stout defense held UTSA without a shot on goal for the match. The shutout was the Ladyjacks' 13th on the year, which ties a conference record for shutouts in a season. Stephen F. Austin defense has only given up seven goals on the season, which is the lowest in conference history by six goals.
Stephen F. Austin advances to the Southland championship match to take on Texas State to earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Ladyjacks will try to become only the fifth No. 1 seed to win the conference title. The championship match will be televised live on Southland TV, Sunday at 1 p.m. Check southland.org/television for affiliates in your area. It will also be streamed live on ESPN3.com and on SLC NOW on the Southland Conference website, southland.org.