Box Score (html)
SEARCY, Ark. – The Bulldogs' two First Team All-Great American Conference forwards outdueled the GAC's Offensive Player of the Year, Haley Hatcher, as No. 3 SWOSU upset No. 2 Ouachita on Thursday afternoon on a soggy Stevens Soccer Field on the campus of Harding University, the site of this year's GAC Tournament.
SWOSU has now won five straight matches in the GAC Tournament, dating back to a 4-0 defeat of Harding in 2012. The Bulldogs have won two of the last three GAC postseason titles.
Samantha Nunez's game-winning goal in the 77th minute tied the single season record for SWOSU with 10 goals. She tied her own mark that she set in 2012 when she was also named to the all-GAC first team.
Despite early pressure from Ouachita, who took three of the match's first four shots, it was the Bulldogs struck first in the 24th minute of play. A mishit pass by the Tigers' defense in their own defense third fell to the feet of First Team All-GAC selection
Cori Kelly. The senior forward picked up her head quickly before firing a shot from 35 yards out that smacked off the crossbar, ricocheted off OBU keeper Lauren Llanes' head and into the back of the net to give SWOSU a 1-0 lead.
The Tigers tried to get back into the match through a shot by Hatcher, but newly minted GAC Goalkeeper of the Year
Courtney Flores was equal to the challenge.
Erica Brunet provide a good chance for the Bulldogs soon after on a run down the left wing, but her shot was saved from distance. The last chance of the half fell to
Shelley Mueller, but unfortunately the shot sailed high and SWOSU finished the opening stanza with a 1-0 lead.
After a foul in the box, SWOSU was given a penalty with a chance to double the lead. Brunet, who was a perfect 3-3 from the spot during the regular season, saw her shot saved by Llanes in the 55th minute. Following the ensuing corner, Ouachita had a chance to level, but Flores pulled off a massive double save to preserve the lead.
Misfortune struck the Bulldogs as Hatcher found some space at the top of the box on the left wing. Her shot looked to beat both Flores and the post, but it deflected off the post and in to even up the score at 1-1 in the 67th minute.
Another First Team All-GAC selection, Nunez, would not be denied. Taking the ball at midfield, Nunez split the ball between one defender's legs before dribbling past two more in Ouachita's box. On the doorstep of the six-yard box, she then sent a low shot across the face of goal into the lower right corner past Llanes to take back the lead in the 77th minute.
Flores finished the match with eight saves, the second-most in a single game for the keeper this year. She holds a perfect record in GAC postseason competition.
The Bulldogs return to action against the winner of second semifinal between No. 1-seed Harding and No. 4-seed Southern Nazarene on Saturday morning. The GAC Tournament final is set to kickoff at 11 a.m., with a trip to the NCAA Division II awarded to the victor.
