DALLAS (SMU) – The SMU women's soccer team upset No. 21 Cincinnati, 1-0, on senior day Sunday afternoon at Westcott Field. The win was SMU's third straight shutout, and sixth clean sheet of the season.

With less than 10 minutes left in regulation, freshman Katia Novi broke the tie and netted the eventual game-winner in the 81st minute to secure the win. After receiving a ball from Jessica Cooley, Allie Thorntonmanaged to get around the Cincinnati back line and loft a cross into the penalty box. After knocking off the cross bar and the near post, the ball fell right to Novi's feet, who punched it in from a yard off the goal-line. The goal was the second of her career and second in the last three matches. Novi played a career-high 28 minutes in the win. Thornton was credited with an assist, the third of the season.

Veteran goalkeeper Catie Brown, along with the backline, stopped all four shots on goal to preserve the sixth clean sheet of the year. SMU outshot the Bearcats, 11-8, and recorded a 5-4 edge on shots on goal. Blair Thorpeled the Mustang attack with four shots, one of which was on frame. Mary Meehan registered two shots, also with one on frame.

With the win, SMU (8-6-3, 3-4-1 AAC) secured three points in American Athletic Conference play and is solely in sixth place with 10 points. The Mustangs hold a one point advantage over AAC foe Houston (9 pts), who bested East Carolina Sunday afternoon. No. 21 Cincinnati fell to 11-3-3 overall, and 4-2-2 in The American.

The regular-season finale awaits the Mustangs Thursday night, as they play host to Houston in a 7 p.m. battle at Westcott Field. The match is winner-take-all and will decide the sixth-seed on the American Athletic Conference Tournament. SMU must win or force a draw to earn a berth.

--SMUMustangs.com--

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