BROWNWOOD, Texas - A pair of first half goals would allow the LeTourneau University women's soccer team to claim a 2-0 victory over Howard Payne University and clinch a spot in next week's American Southwest Conference Women's Soccer Tournament.
With the win, LETU improves to 9-6-3 and 5-5-2 in the ASC while HPU concludes their season at 5-9-2 overall and 4-8-0 in conference.
LeTourneau would barrage Howard Payne early and often in the first half, putting up 20 shots in the opening 45 minutes of play while yielding only five first half shots for HPU. LETU would earn a corner kick at the 21 minute mark and see a header by
Rebekah Stevenson blocked but keep the ball on Howard Payne's half of the field. LeTourneau freshman
Jennifer Martin would put a shot on goal a just three minutes later at the 24:15 mark in the first half that would be saved by HPU keeper Nicole Goodwin but put back in play that would allow for Stevenson to score and give LETU the 1-0 lead.
LeTourneau would then get an insurance goal just before the 36 minute mark when sophomore
Kelli Sonnier would score her team-leading sixth goal of the year. LeTourneau would manage to put up three more shots before halftime, but could not find the back of the net to add any more to their lead.
LETU would keep up their offensive shot barrage in the second half, adding an additional 12 shots while limiting Howard Payne to just six second half shots while forcing HPU keeper Goodwin to make nine additional second half saves. Despite the high offensive output, LETU would be kept off the scoreboard but earn their seventh shutout of the year.
Senior
Carrye Funk would break a school record with her sixth shutout of 2017, breaking the a tie she held with Nicole Tammelin who had five in 2008. Martin would lead all players with 10 shots while senior
Kennedy Keer had six shots total.
The official 2017 ASC Women's Soccer Postseason Tournament will be released following the conclusion of regular-season games on Saturday evening, but LETU is expected to be the No. 8 seed. Hardin-Simmons University won the ASC regular season title and will be the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament which will be held Tuesday, October 31st through Sunday, November 5th.
