BOX SCORE | TOURNAMENT PAGE
BEAUMONT, Texas — Fifth-seeded Houston Christian completed a remarkable championship run Sunday afternoon, defeating defending champion Stephen F. Austin 1–0 in overtime to capture the 2025 Southland Conference Women’s Soccer Championship at the LU Soccer Complex.
Junior forward Olivia Rossman delivered the golden goal in the 99th minute, finishing a pass from Ella Remy to secure the Huskies’ third Southland title. Rossman was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, capping a dominant week in which she powered HCU (12-8-2) to its first championship since 2016.
The title marks HCU’s third Southland crown (2014, 2016, 2025) and extends its perfect record in championship appearances to 3–0, all against Stephen F. Austin. It was also the first title match to reach overtime since 2015 and the first to end in overtime since 2010.
The win also gives Head Coach Nick Whitting his first Southland championship in just his second season at the helm, rebounding after narrowly missing the tournament in his debut campaign.
Goalkeeper Emmy McKeon turned in another stellar performance, recording eight saves to post her third straight tournament victory and shutout. The Huskies’ defensive core — led by Jordan Bushnell, Alexia Murillo, and Gisele Kehres — contained an SFA offense seeking a fifth conference title and second straight crown.
Houston Christian became just the fourth No. 5 seed to reach the Southland title match and only the third to win it, joining Abilene Christian (2018) and Southeastern (2020).
With the victory, the Huskies earned the Southland’s automatic berth into the 2025 NCAA Tournament, with their pairing to be announced during Monday’s selection show at 3 p.m. CT on ncaa.com.
Houston Christian’s championship capped one of the most impressive postseason runs in conference history — three straight wins over top-four seeds, two shutouts, and an overtime finish fitting for a team that refused to break through every test of the tournament.
2025 Southland Women’s Soccer All-Tournament Team
Olivia Rossman, HCU (MVP)
Emmy McKeon, HCU
Alexia Murillo, HCU
Paisley Barela, HCU
Ella Remy, HCU
Jordan Bushnell, HCU
Sierra McCluer, SFA
Erin Morgan, SFA
Taylor Dodson, SFA
Alex Bayouth, SFA
Kendall Hemperley, Northwestern State