BROWNWOOD, Texas- The Howard Payne University women's soccer team beat the Schreiner University Mountaineers by a score of 1-0 in extra time at the Citizens National Bank Soccer Field on Tuesday evening to advance to the American Southwest Conference Tournament Semi Finals.
Senior midfielder Abbie Wetzel scored Howard Payne's lone goal of the match in the fifth match of extra time.
Howard Payne got off to a great start. The Lady Jackets showed an intensity to their play that prevented Schreiner from gaining any meaningful possession of the ball. The striker partnership of junior forward Alayna Lopez and freshman forward and midfielder Kenzie Cameron led the way in applying the pressure.
Lopez didn't stick to her position. The Midlothian, Texas roamed around the pitch to make whatever play the Lady Jackets needed. Senior midfielder Sarah Krusing came in for Cameron in the 23rd minute, and the intensity continued to follow.
HPU's best goal-scoring opportunity in the first half came in the 14th minute when Cameron's shot just missed and landed on the roof of the goal.
At the half, the Lady Jackets had nine shots and forced Mountaineer goalkeeper Emilie Novasad into making one save.
Howard Payne started to absorb pressure and defended deeper in the second half. The change in tactics meant that HPU would need to use the counter to attack Schreiner, and head coach Brandon Badgeley managed the fitness of his players with key substitutions.
In the 82nd minute, the Lady Jackets had a corner kick, but the ball deflected off of senior defender Kate Nordhaus to go behind the goal for the goal kick.
"I'm really proud of the girls' relentless fight tonight," head coach Brandon Badgeley said. "We spent the last few days talking about extending that pressure and giving ourselves chances. They did an amazing job tonight. I'm so happy for our seniors, and how they ended their career at home. What a goal by Abbie! Senior, last home game, golden goal, special ending."
Up Next: The Howard Payne University women's soccer team moves on to the American Southwest Conference Tournament semi-finals, where a third meeting will take place between the Lady Jackets and the Hardin-Simmons University Cowgirls. The match will be at the HSU Soccer Complex on Thursday, November 5, at 5:00 PM.
