ORU Women's Soccer Wins First Southland Conference Tournament Match

The Oral Roberts women's soccer team won its first ever Southland Conference tournament game on Thursday afternoon as they topped Sam Houston State, 2-0.

With the victory, the Golden Eagles (12-6-2) move on to face regular season champions Stephen F. Austin in the tournament semifinals at 4:30 p.m. ORU fell in the regular season contest against the Ladyjacks, 5-0.

The shutout was sophomore keeper Helen Erb's ninth of the season, the most in a single season in program history. She recorded five saves in her tenth victory of the year.

The Golden Eagles broke open the game in the 33rd minute of the contest on a goal by Jennifer Abernathy. A first team All-Southland award winner, Abernathy booted a loose ball in the box into the upper left corner of the net. It was her fourth goal of the season.

In the 61st minute, freshman Ashley Martin put the icing on the cake, taking a pass from Kayla Keller for the second goal. Keller earned her seventh assists of the season.

Despite a two goal differential, a wide margin by soccer terms, the match was balanced in the shots column. The ‘Kats took one more shot than the Golden Eagles, 7-6, but ORU took two more shots on goal which proved to be the difference.