BOX SCORE || WEATHERFORD, Okla. - The Southwestern Oklahoma State Lady Bulldogs captured their second straight Great American Conference Women's Soccer Championship title by defeating Harding, 2-0, on Sunday in front of the home crowd at the SWOSU Athletic Complex.
Tournament MVP Alexis Russell scored in the 55th minute and assisted on Natalie Crosslin's goal 13 minutes later. SWOSU (13-4-2) outshot Harding (8-9-1) 30-2. The 30 shots represent a record for a GAC Women’s Soccer Championship game. Jessica Carbonara led the Lady Bulldogs with 11 shots, five on goal.
The Bulldogs controlled play throughout the game, but couldn’t find the back of the net in the opening half, despite outshooting Harding 13-0. Russell’s seventh goal of the season came on a shot from the left wing that beat Harding’s Kaitlyn Miller in the top right corner of the net.
2013 GAC Women's Soccer Championship Final - Photo Gallery
In the 68th minute, Crosslin scored her fourth goal on the year when she headed home a Russell corner kick to push the lead to 2-0. Russell collected a goal and an assist of both of SWOSU’s GAC Championships games. Her six points led all players during the weekend.
Miller, and her replacement, Danielle Nonaka each made six saves for Harding, which reached just its second-ever conference tournament final. The Lady Bisons previous appearance came 2004.
Russell and Crosslin led five Bulldogs on the All-Tournament Team. Carbonara, last year’s MVP, Kira Bertrand and Kelsey Visor also made the team. For Visor, it represents her third-straight appearance on the All-Tournament Team. Harding’s Jenna Taylor, Hannah Hatcher and Melissa Minnich, East Central’s Katie and Margaret Glutz and Ouachita Baptist’s Haley Hatcher and Abby Emanuel rounded out the 12-member All-Tournament Team.
Southwestern Oklahoma State, who entered the weekend rated ninth in the NCAA Central Region Rankings, will learn if it earned another NCAA Tournament bid Monday at 6:30 p.m. Central time during the NCAA Selection Show. It will stream live at NCAA.com.