CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Kaydence Ramirez had a goal and an assist, while Savannah Powell had the go-ahead goal as No. 3 East Texas A&M punched their ticket to the Southland Soccer Championship Match, defeating No. 2 and host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 2-1, on Thursday evening at Dugan Soccer Stadium.

The Lions, only in their third year in Division I, return to the championship match for the second time in the last three years. They will battle top-seeded SFA on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

After a first half where both teams seemed to be feeling each other out, the second half brought all the fireworks out.

The first breakthrough came in the 54th minute as East Texas A&M was able to draw a handball in the box that was upheld after video review.

Southland Player of the Year Kaydence Ramirez calmly stepped up and buried her penalty kick to put the Lions ahead 1-0.

A&M-Corpus Christi had a response in the 60th minute as an excellent pass down the side from Storm Harris found Cilia Leal and drew the keeper out. Leal was able to control and send a ball across to Morgan Westbury, who finished with the open net to equalize at one apiece.

The Lions responded as Ramirez's brilliance in the midfield continued to show, possessing and sending an incredible through ball to Powell. Powell gathered, controlled, and powered a shot through Zoe Theriot's legs to power East Texas A&M to a 2-1 lead in the 68th minute.

From there, the Lions defense stiffened and did not allow the Islanders to get anything quality off, only allowing two shots in the final 22 minutes with only one on target, which came from distance. 

On a day that saw a historic name change, the Lions women's soccer team continued to show why they are a premier team in the Southland. 

East Texas A&M was the No. 3 seed as well in 2022, upsetting No. 2 seed Northwestern State in the semifinals in Natchitoches, but falling to top-seeded Lamar in the finals, 4-1. They will look to reverse those fortunes on Sunday.