ASC CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
LONGVIEW -- These two teams are about as equal as it gets when you compare the numbers. Now they'll decide who has the upper hand when it's all said and done.
LeTourneau University women's soccer team will meet McMurry in the American Southwest Conference Championship quarterfinals 7 p.m. Tuesday in Abilene, Texas.
The YellowJackets earned the No. 5 seed, while the War Hawks represent the No. 4 seed. The winner advances to Friday's ASC semifinals at Hardin-Simmons. LeTourneau (9-7-1) finished four points behind the McMurry (11-3-6) in the middle of the league standings. No. 24 nationally-ranked Hardin-Simmons (14-2-1) won the regular season title, going unbeaten in ASC play.
LETU fell to McMurry, 1-0, at home on Oct. 3. The YellowJackets own a 7-1-1 advantage in the series history. LeTourneau has won both of its road contests in Abilene. The Jackets won five in a row between 2015 and last year, when they beat the War Hawks twice in Longview.
McMurry's Alyssa Daily scored the only goal in this year's contest on an assist from Sky Reynolds in the 76th minute. It was a match where both teams finished with 11 shots, while each of the goalkeepers made four saves.
Mackenzie Wilbanks was the keeper of record that game for LETU. McMurry's Jordan Gregory and Cindy Villasana split halves, each stopping two shots in the combined shutout.
LeTourneau is coming off a big win over rival East Texas Baptist Friday.
Reagan Sandford scored her team-leading ninth and 10th goals of the season -- the gamewinner on an assist from
Celeste Nunez with 24 seconds to play in regulation.
Sandford ranks third in the ASC in points per game (1.56) and tied for third in goals. Daily is second in goals (11), and leads the conference in shots (77) and shots per game (4.53). Wilbanks is sixth in the league in goals against average (0.87), eighth in saves per game (4.10) and tied for ninth with two shutouts. Villasana is fourth in GAA (0.66), while Gregory is fifth (0.79).
This is LeTourneau's seventh trip to the ASC Championship Tournament and fifth in a row under head coach
John Antonisse. The YellowJackets are 0-5-1 in the tournament. Last year, the Jackets advanced to the semifinals, 6-5 in penalty kicks, following a 1-1 double overtime tie with Sul Ross State.
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