Highlights and Interviews
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Seattle U claimed the 2016 WAC Women's Soccer Tournament championship and an NCAA Tournament automatic berth with a 2-1 victory over UMKC. Freshman forward Jessie Ray's first career goal, with 18 minutes remaining, proved to be the difference.
The match began with a flurry of offense, as both teams scored within eight minutes of the kickoff. Sophomore forwawrd Lexie Howard opened the scoring for UMKC, getting a toe on a Kelsey Mothershead cross and deflecting it into the goal. Just a 1:16 after that goal, Karli White equalized for SU, hammering home a shot from just outside the 18-yard box.
The match significantly tightened up in the second half, as there were no shots for the first 27 minutes of action before the Redhawks struck the deciding blow. Senior midfielder Natasha Howe, the Tournament MVP, beat two midfielders on a driving run from half and dished to Ray, whose left-footed effort to the far post beat UMKC goalkeeper Anna Lillig.
With the win Seattle U claimed its third WAC Tournament Championship in the past four years. The Redhawks will find out their NCAA Tournament opponent on Monday during the NCAA Women's Soccer Selection Show at 1:30 p.m. PT. Watch the show live at ncaa.com.
All-Tournament Team
Keneika Webster, Fr., D, CSU Bakersfield
Haley Vicente, So., F, CSU Bakersfield
Libby Weber, Jr., MF, Utah Valley
Linley Brown, So., D, Utah Valley
Lexie Howard, So., F, UMKC
Emily Herndon, Sr., MF, UMKC
Niekie Pellens, Sr., D, UMKC
Karli White, So., F, Seattle U
Brie Hooks, Sr., F, Seattle U
Isabelle Butterfield, So., F, Seattle U
Tournament MVP
Natasha Howe, Sr., MF, Seattle U