Crusaders Knocked Out of SCAC Tournament by Trinity

IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas women's soccer team were defeated in the SCAC Women's Soccer Semifinals, falling to Trinity 2-0.

Things did not start at all the way the Crusaders had hoped.  In their previous regular season meeting, the Crusaders held the Tigers scoreless for 80 minutes before they finally found a breakthrough to win the match 1-0.  Not even five minutes into tonight's semifinal, a wild scrum in the box ended with Trinity being awarded a penalty.  Though she needed to take the spot kick twice, as a Trinity player was called for encroachment of the 18 yard box, Cece Hendrix put the Tigers up 1-0, leaving the Crusaders chasing for nearly the entire match.  Kaity Ward doubled the lead with 10 minutes left in the half, with things looking quite bleak for UD.

But the Crusaders were mere inches from turning the game on its head early in the second half.  May Lien Le tried her luck from about 30 yards out; her floating shot dipped under the crossbar at the last second, nearly finding the top corner, but a stellar save by Lauren Bolish prevented the Crusaders from halving the lead.  Though Dallas defended well enough the keep the Tigers from scoring at all in the second half, chances were few and far between.  But there was still life in the game, and the Crusaders were, once again, painfully close to finding the back of the net.  With 15 minutes left in the half, a Trinity defender slipped on the dewy pitch, allowing Andrea Coppi to dribble in one-on-one with the keeper.  She let her shot fly from the top of the box, and off her foot it seemed destined for the net.  But the shot agonizingly skimmed off the top of the crossbar and out for a goal kick.  It would be the last great chance of the game for the Crusaders, as Trinity held on to win 2-0 and advance to Sunday's Tournament Final.

The Crusaders end the season with a 9-6-1 overall record abd a .594 winning percentage, their best winning percentage in a full season (they posted a .667 winning percentage in last year's COVID shortened season) since 2012.