SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The top-seeded Tiger women scored three first-half goals and shut out No. 2 seed Texas Lutheran University, 3-0, to win their sixth consecutive Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship on Sunday afternoon. Box Score | Interactive Bracket | Official Website | Photo Gallery
Third-ranked Trinity (20-0-1) also clinched the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Playoffs. The opening-rounds sites and pairings will be announced Monday. Texas Lutheran completed the season with a 10-9-1 mark.
Coach Lance Key has now led the Tigers to nine conference titles in 11 seasons, and to the NCAA Playoffs for the 10th occasion. The Tigers advanced to the 2013 NCAA Championship game, played at Toyota Field in San Antonio.
All-American Kelsey Falcone was named the SCAC Tournament Offensive Most Valuable Player, while teammate Shelby Hopkins was the SCAC Tournament Defensive MVP.
Falcone scored the eventual game-winner in the seventh minute of today's title-clinching victory. She also netted two goals - including the game-winner - in yesterday's 7-0 win over Austin College. Hopkins supplied the assist for Falcone's game-winner today, and led a stingy defense that didn't allow a shot in two SCAC Tournament games.
Maggie Olvera gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead with 14 minutes remaining in the first half of today's game, on assists from Hannah Kuhl and Nicole Gardini. It marked Olvera’s 10th goal of the campaign. The final goal came from Colleen Markey, on a solo shot in the 20th minute.
Devan Osegueda held the goalkeepers position for 75 minutes, and was relieved by Lauren Goldberg. The two seniors combined for the team's 15th overall shutout this season, as well as the fifth consecutive clean sheet.
For Texas Lutheran, Erin Crump had four saves in the first half before being replaced by Devin Crump, who finished with nine saves while keeping the Tigers scoreless in the second half. The Bulldogs could not get anything going offensively as they were not able to get a shot off.
The Tigers now begin their quest for their first national title. They will find out who they will be playing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday.
To watch an interview with Trinity University head coach Lance Key, click here.
To watch an interview with Offensive MVP Kelsey Falcone of Trinity University, click here.
To watch an interview with Defensive MVP Shelby Hopkins of Trinity University, click here.
