THE RUNDOWN 
No. 9 DBU defeated MSU Denver 2-1 in the first-round match of the NCAA DII South Central Regional. McKenna Vela found Anne Louthan not once, but twice in the match to solidify the Patriots' 16th win of the season. 

DBU took an early 1-0 lead in the first half thanks to a goal scored by Anne Louthan. McKenna Vela moved the ball up the left side of the pitch and found Louthan at minute eight in the center of the box for her 7th goal of the season. The Patriots and Roadrunners played the rest of the half evenly, attempting six shots apiece and both committing two fouls. 

In the second half, DBU held the Roadrunners to no goals until the 71st minute, when MSUD's Brooklyn Gold made a shot in the bottom center of the goal. The Patriots immediately were on the counterattack, finding the game-winning goal with a minute and a half remaining on the clock. McKenna Vela and Anne Louthan struck again from inside the 18-yard box, giving DBU the one-goal lead to advance them into round-two of the NCAA DII South Central Regional. 

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 

• This is DBU's fourth time to reach the second round of the South Central Regional since 2019.  

• McKenna Vela had her third double-assist performance of the season against the Roadrunners. She now totals 11 assists on the season, which is three shy of the No. 1 ranking in the nation. 

• Anne Louthan led the team in shots, totaling four in the 90 minutes against MSUD. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 
2- McKenna Vela's two assists during the match make her the second player in program history to reach 11 assists in a single season. 

5- The Patriots and Roadrunners each posted five shots on goal and five fouls during the match. 

8- Anne Louthan's two-goal performance gives her eight goals on the season. This marks her first multi-goal game with the Patriots. 

90- Only three Patriots stayed on the pitch the entire 90 minutes, including goalkeeper Breanna Bowen and defenders Parker Coe and Haley Roberson. 

HEAD COACH MARCUS WOOD ON THE MATCH
"Vela to Louthan! 2 great goals. A great team win. Credit to Kat Mertz and her outstanding team. Everything was difficult. Credit to the Patriots for finding a way to get it done. To God be the glory. We are excited for 2 more days in San Angelo."

UP NEXT 
DBU meets Angelo State in the second round of the NCAA DII South Central Regional on Sunday, November 24 at 3 P.M.