THE RUNDOWN
No. 1 DBU defeated Midwestern State 4-1 in the Lone Star Conference Championship Sunday afternoon at Patriot Field. The Patriots scored three goals in the first half and added one more in the second frame to stop a Mustangs squad on a cinderella run through the conference postseason. The Patriots (16-1-1) now lift the LSC trophy for the second time in four years and secure an automatic bid in next week's NCAA Tournament. 

The match began at a blistering pace, with both sides punching in a score before the clock reached four minutes. Angelina Olmos got things going 90 seconds into the game with a goal that gave DBU a brief 1-0 lead. But the Mustangs (9-9-2) immediately mounted a furious comeback, tying the game on a corner kick that boomeranged into the goal.

After the equalizer, DBU stymied the Midwestern attack and dominated possession the rest of the way. The Patriots outshot the Mustangs 30-8 and kept the ball at their feet for the remainder of the match. Rachel Allen put DBU back in front in the 27th minute when a corner kick from Haley Roberson was kept in play by Annie Severide. The 2-1 lead quickly became a three-goal edge when Marta found the back of the net for the sixth time this season at the 35-minute mark. 

MSU's hope of a second-half resurgence was squashed almost immediately after halftime. A Kaleigh Naizer score on an Olmos assist allowed coach Wood to empty his bench for the rest of the game. 

 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 
- DBU wins the seventh conference championship in program history. 
- Haley Roberson recorded her 10th assist of the year, tying Summerlyn Heller (2021), Abigail Olmos (2021), Ashley Cox (2012), and Allyson Bales (2009) for the single-season record. 
- The Patriots reach the NCAA Tournament for the 10th time in school history. 
- Angelina Olmos, Rachel Allen, Annie Severide, and Joeli Benson were named to the 2022 All-Tournament Team. Michelle Gonzalez "Marta" was named tournament MVP.

POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 
11 - DBU tied its season high with 11 corner kicks. 
8 - The Patriots have gone to the NCAA postseason each of the last eight years. 
8 - Eight of DBU's 10 starters in the field recorded a goal or assist. 

UP NEXT
No. 1 DBU learns its opponent on the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, November 7.