Mustangs Earn AAC Runner-Up Honors
STORRS, Conn. (SMU) – The SMU women's soccer team earned runner-up honors in the American Athletic Conference, falling to top-seeded and nationally-ranked Connecticut, 1-0, in the AAC Championship match Sunday at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium. Four Mustangs were named to the All-Tournament team, including junior Claire Oates, who scored the game-winner against Memphis to send SMU to the championship game.
Along with Oates on the All-Tournament team were goalkeeper Catie Brown, and forwards Allie Thorntonand Vanessa Valadez. Oates scored two goals during the tournament, and converted the penalty kick to propel SMU over UCF in the quarterfinals. She is tied for the team lead with 10 goals on the season. Brown, who saved two penalty kicks in the opening round shootout against UCF, recorded 10 saves in 290 minutes of play, and posted an 83.3 save percentage.
Sixteenth-ranked UConn (18-2-1) scored the game's lone goal in the 40th minute, as Rachel Hill was able to collect and finish a long pass from Kim Urbanek.
In the second half, the Mustangs outshot the Huskies, 8-6, and forced four corner kicks, but were unable to convert.
With a 13-6-2 record, the Mustangs will await a bid to the 2016 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament. The selection show will be streamed live on www.NCAA.com on Monday at 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 CT. Fans are encouraged to join the Mustangs, as SMU will host a viewing party in the Loyd All-Sports Center's Hall of Champions.The Mustangs have played in 12 NCAA Tournaments all-time, with the last appearance in 2006.
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