Dallas Baptist University Athletics

THE LEAD
No. 6 Dallas Baptist University defeated St. Edward's 1-0 in the South Central Region Final of the 2015 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship on Thursday. Senior goalkeeper Jenna Ackerly made a save on Katie Donahue's penalty kick attempt in the 89^th minute to seal the win for the Patriots.
 
Senior forward Ashley Cox scored the game-winner for her 12^th goal of the season when she dribbled past a defender and put a shot from 18-yards out past First Team All-Heartland Conference goalie Lorrie Santoy in the 4^th minute of the game.
 
Ackerly made four saves in the match, including her heroic save late in the game. DBU's defense made it 43 minutes into the match before surrendering the game's first shot on goal. The Patriots' win on Thursday marks the fourth over St. Edward's in the 2015 season. 

HEAD COACH MICHELLE LENARD  - ON ADVANCING TO THE ELITE EIGHT
"I am so proud of the team right now. We knew it was going to be incredibly difficult to beat the same team four times in one season, especially a team as good as St. Edward's. We executed our game plan well in the first half and gave ourselves an early lead. We knew in the second half that they were going to put tremendous pressure on us to try to equalize, but we were able to prevent too many good looks at goal. Jenna came up huge with the save to prevent overtime. Overall, it was just a fantastic team effort."
 
IN THE NUMBERS
22 – After recording just seven points in DBU's first 12 games, Ashley Cox has 22 points in the last nine.
8 – The Elite Eight is the farthest the Patriots have ever made it in the NCAA Tournament.
12 – Jenna Ackerly racked up her 12^th shutout in 21 matches this season.
 
UP NEXT FOR THE PATRIOTS
DBU will face the winner of No. 2 Western Washington and No. 23 Azusa Pacific in the quarterfinals of the 2015 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.