CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Top-seeded SFA scored two goals late in the second half to defeat No. 3 East Texas A&M and claim their fourth Southland Soccer Tournament Championship and first since 2012 on Sunday afternoon at Dugan Soccer Stadium.

For SFA, it snaps a five-game losing streak in the conference championship match and will return the Lumberjacks to the NCAA Soccer Championship. It marks the fourth consecutive year the regular season champion and also claimed the tournament championship.

It was a worthy final between two of the best teams in the Southland as the Jacks and Lions left it all on the field. 

East Texas A&M got early looks on the attack, especially from forward Hannah Bell, putting pressure on SFA. But as they have been all season, the Jacks defense was steady and solid and kept the game scoreless.

SFA then got moving in their attack, firing off eight shots in the first half, but it was East Texas A&M that kept a clean sheet in the half as neither team could find a breakthrough.

Fireworks started to go in the second half as SFA began to control possession. However, Veronica Pacione of the Lions kept her team alive with a pair of incredible saves, one coming off a free kick from Ava Shannon and another right in front of the net from Kamryn Jiles.

On the other end, Sierra McCluer made a big save of her own as Nia Chacon got a great chance on goal off a header, causing McCluer to make an incredible diving save.

SFA finally made the breakthrough in the 79th minute as a corner kick from Shannon found the head of Erin Morgan, who finished for the 1-0 lead.

East Texas A&M tried to find an equalizer in the last 10 minutes, but it instead turned into an opportunity for Jayme Bailey, who put away the match with an incredible low shot to the far post, sealing the match at 2-0.

Bailey was named Tournament Most Valuable Player for her efforts all week. 

The Lumberjacks will find out their first round destination tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. via the NCAA Selection Show on ncaa.com.

2024 Southland Soccer All-Tournament Team
Jayme Bailey, SFA (MVP)
Ella Morgan, SFA
Erin Morgan SFA
Maddie Bowers, SFA
Brielle Buchanan, SFA
Ava Shannon, SFA
Nia Chacon, ETAMU
Savannah Powell, ETAMU
Kaydence Ramirez, ETAMU
Libe Banuelos, NWST
Storm Harris, AMCC