ORLANDO, Fla. (SMU) – The No.6-seeded SMU women's soccer team advanced to the American Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal match Wednesday, topping third-seeded Cincinnati, 1-0, at the UCF Soccer and Track Complex. 

With the win, SMU stretched its winning streak to five matches and improved to 10-6-3 on the year. The Mustangs will square off against the second-seeded USF Bulls Friday at 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 CT. Cincinnati was eliminated from the tournament and fell to 12-4-3 on the season.

In the 2nd minute of play, Haley Thompson sent a curling corner kick in to the box, where a shot was put on frame and another was blocked by the Cincinnati defense. Claire Oates roped a third shot, but the attempt was blocked by the defense and sent out of the box.

Sophomore Allie Thornton netted the eventual game-winner in the 36th minute to break the scoreless game. After Cincinnati attempted to clear the ball from its own 18-yard box, Oates managed to head a low line-drive right to the feet of Thornton. From 25-yards out, the Arlington, Texas, native roped an uncontested shot into the net past a diving Madison Less. Thornton now has four goals on the season.

The SMU defense pitched its eighth shutout of the year, allowing just four shots on goal. In the 6th minute, veteran goalkeeper Catie Brown recorded her first save of the evening, saving a Cincinnati header into the crossbar. The Sacramento, Calif., native recorded her second save in the 31st minute, sending a free kick into the crossbar again to keep the Bearcats off the board. Brown tallied two saves in the second half to preserve the clean sheet. SMU has extended its shutout streak five matches and hasn't allowed a goal over the last 453 minutes of play (452:26).

Up next, SMU will square off against the second-seeded USF Bulls on Friday at 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 CT. The match can be seen on The American Digital Network.

Postgame Notes:
•    SMU stretched its win streaks to five; All shutouts
•    Longest winning streak since 2010 (5 matches)
•    SMU has not allowed a goal in 443 minutes (442:26)
•    SMU improved to 4-3-2 all-time against Cincinnati
•    SMU remains undefeated in the opening round of the AAC tournament (3-0-1)
•    Allie Thornton recorded her first career postseason goal

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