Stephen F. Austin
Texas-San Antonio
Ladyjacks Reach SLC Title Game
11/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 9, 2007
NATCHITOCHES, La. - Kelli Wilson broke a scoreless tie with her goal in the second minute of the second half, and the Stephen F. Austin defense made the goal stand up, as the Ladyjacks collected a 1-0 win over Texas-San Antonio Friday in the semifinals of the Southland Conference Soccer Tournament. With the victory, No. 2 SFA advances to the final round to meet No. 1 seed McNeese State.
Wilson's goal came off a pair of passes from junior midfielder Summer Bradfield and freshman forward Kesia Broome in the 46th minute. It was the sophomore's ninth goal of the season. The score came just seconds after the halftime break and followed a frustrating first half that saw the Ladyjacks outshoot UTSA, 10-7, with five shots on goal, but come away empty-handed.
The Roadrunners held a 7-5 advantage in second-period shots with five shots on goal to SFA's two after halftime. But Ladyjack goalkeeper Crystin Pactor was dialed in, recording seven saves to post her sixth shutout of the season. Incidentally, Pactor's first shutout of the year came in SFA's regular-season meeting with the Roadrunners, when she made seven saves to preserve a scoreless tie.
For the game, SFA edged UTSA in shots, 15-14. The Ladyjacks posted eight shots on goal to the Roadrunners' seven, and SFA earned five corner kicks opportunities while allowing one.
The Ladyjacks (12-4-2) will meet SLC co-champion McNeese State Sunday at 1 p.m. in the championship game with the winner earning the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. The Cowgirls defeated SFA, 1-0, in their game at Lake Charles, La., during the regular season.
SFA is returning to the title game for the first time since 2003. That year, the Ladyjacks also entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed and went on to defeat Southeastern Louisiana, 2-0, in the championship game to earn the program's first NCAA bid.
Sunday's game will be available to view online through Southland TV on the Southland Conference Web site, www.southland.org. Fans can also track the action by clicking the LiveStats link at the bottom of the tournament schedule story on the Southland Soccer main page.
-- SFA --
