THE RUNDOWN
The Dallas Baptist Women's Soccer Team handled business on Thursday versus Texas A&M International University to leap to the Heartland Conference Championship match for the fourth-straight year after a 2-0 win. DBU (14-3-1) continued its stretch of 10 victories in a row, and has now blanked opponents in 11 contests on the campaign.
 
The Patriots have also now triumphed in nine consecutive matches that featured an opponent from the Heartland Conference. The only league foe to blemish DBU's perfect record is host team, St. Edward's University; who won a thriller in overtime earlier in the day to St. Mary's, 2-1.
 
After an even match-up with pressure in the first part of the opening half, DBU would push its shot advantage to 11-4 at break. The second-seeded squad would score in each frame, and held the Dustdevils shot-less in the remainder of the affair.
 
Pacing the Patriots' offense was junior Ashley Cox with six attempts, and five of the team's 11 shots on goal. Her .833 shot on goal percentage, along with fellow teammate Lindsey Eccles' perfect display of four fired on mark were impressive to give DBU scoring opportunities all day.
 
Senior Lea Sedwick also boasted four shots, and junior Emilie MacDonald and freshman Leah Draper notched three apiece. Junior Jolee Patterson rounded out the multi-shot category with a pair.  
 
HIGHLIGHTS
The first half witnessed each team adjusting to rainy field conditions the past couple days. TAMIU provided some early pressure on the Patriots' locked down backline, but could not break into the back of the net.
 
Sedwick already had taken two attempts, but finally got the third in on her characteristic header that has helped the four-year starter find multiple scoring results through her career. The Kennedale, Texas, native notched her fifth goal of the season in the 36:27 point of the match. MacDonald continues a nice point span she is currently on, with the forward tallying an assist on the first netter to lift DBU ahead.
 
It remained scoreless from that point on throughout most of the second, with the Dustdevils remaining in the game off six saves in the final stanza. DBU posted another double-digit shooting half, and Eccles secured things with her second goal of the year in the 72^nd minute.
 
Patterson set the play up with a cross through the box, and the native of Denton, Texas, produced the team's second goal in the tournament by completing the sequence in the middle in front of the net.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
24 – Total shots Patriots attempted all day
0 – TAMIU shots in the second half
9 – Saves the Dustdevils collected
13 – Points MacDonald has accumulated last five matches
78 –Shots Ashley Cox has attempted overall this campaign
6 – Corner kicks by DBU in second half (nine total)
3 – Shot attempts by TAMIU's Sol Medina
 
TOP QUOTE
"We feel good about the way we played today and hope to carry this momentum into the finals on Saturday. It took us about 20 minutes to settle in and adjust to the wet and muddy field conditions. Once that happened, we were able to control the tempo of the game and create lots of very good chances. The second half was a key moment to watch, as the team kept its opposition from attempting a shot in that one. We have worked very hard to get here and we are excited for the opportunity to play in the championship game on Saturday." – Women's Soccer Head Coach Michelle Lenard.
                            
UP NEXT
Dallas Baptist will meet St. Edward's University in a rivalry meeting that has dated back to 2011. The Patriots are 1-2 in contests that feature the Hilltoppers in the Championship tournament. Kickoff is slated for 12 PM.