ADA, Okla. – After having a 2-0 lead slip away in the second half, the SWOSU Soccer team was bested early in overtime as East Central scored the game-winning goal in the 93rd minute to prevail 3-2 in the regular season finale on Saturday in Ada.
 
The Bulldogs struck early as Brianna Benitez took a pass from Brooke Scott and beat the keeper just over eight minutes into the match for a 1-0 lead, which grew to 2-0 on a penalty kick by Kylee Martin in the 34th minute. SWOSU carried their 2-0 lead into halftime despite being outshot, 11-10, by the Tigers.
 
ECU was on the attack in the second half and broke through with their first goal in the 64th minute and less than seven minutes later they tied the match at 2-2. A yellow card by SWOSU in the final minute of regulation gave the Tigers one last chance to win it in regulation, but the shot was high and sent the game into extra time.
 
Claire Torry had a scoring opportunity for the Dawgs early in overtime, but her shot was saved and ECU had two shots in the next two minutes, including the game-winning goal just under three minutes into the extra period.
 
SWOSU had 19 shot attempts in the match, including 13 on goal, compared to 23 shots by the Tigers, which included 11 on-goal attempts. Ashley Hughes made seven saves for the Dawgs while Kirstyn Dill had one save in a relief appearance.
 
The loss drops SWOSU to 4-3-1 on the year and they close out conference play with a 3-2-1 record. The Bulldogs will open up the Great American Conference Tournament next Saturday, April 10, in Weatherford. Opponent and game time will be set later in the weekend following the end of all regular season conference contests.