The HBU women鈥檚 soccer team captured its second Southland Conference Tournament championship in three years with a 1-0 shutout of Stephen F. Austin November 6 at Jack Dugan Soccer Stadium in Corpus Christi, Texas. With the victory, the Huskies earned the league鈥檚 automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Senior midfielder Allison Abendschein, voted the Tournament Most Valuable Player, scored the lone goal in the final, a header off the serve of a corner kick by senior forward Alessia Dal Monte. Junior midfielder Ellee Hall scored twice during the tournament, bringing her career postseason goal total to five. Dal Monte, Hall, sophomore goalkeeper Alanis Guevara, senior defender Kristi O鈥橞rien and sophomore forward Sabriah Spencer joined Abendschein on the All-Tournament Team.
HBU outscored its three opponents, 5-1, in the tournament, with Guevara posting shutouts against top-seeded Central Arkansas, then second-seeded Stephen F. Austin for the title.
鈥淲e are so proud of the effort and determination the girls put in this week and this weekend,鈥� head coach Misty Jones said. 鈥淪FA is an excellent team and made us fight to keep the lead. It is nice to bring the trophy back home, two championships in three years is big for our program. Being the underdog puts less pressure on us, and we were able to play our game. It was a tremendous effort from the players and staff, and we would like to thank the fans who traveled from all over to support us. The team personified what it means to be a champion.鈥�
Jones, who recorded her 100th win at HBU at Lamar on October 23, also led the Huskies to the tournament crown in 2014 and made the University鈥檚 first NCAA postseason appearance by a women鈥檚 program. Eleven student-athletes have been a part of both titles, including the six seniors — Abendschein, O鈥橞rien, Dal Monte, Elizabeth Adams, Morgan Dean and Jia LeBlanc.