ABILENE, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's soccer team advanced to the American Southwest Conference Championship with a 2-1 win over Howard Payne Friday afternoon in Abilene. The win improved the Cru to 13-3-2 on the season while the Yellow Jackets ended their season at 8-10 overall.
 
The game originally started on Thursday, November 7^th and played for 15:51 before it was called due to weather. The contest resumed at 4 p.m. on Friday, November 8^th. Howard Payne reopened the game with a goal in the 18^th minute to go ahead 1-0. That score held through the half, with the Cru outshooting Howard Payne 13-5 but trailing by one.
 
Morgen Rathmell scored the equalizer for the Cru in the 56^th minute, finding the back of the net off an assist from Trinity Hoffmann. The knot held until the 70^th minute when Hoffmann scored off a pass from Peyton Floyd to take the lead. The Cru held onto that margin, earning the 2-1 win.
 
UMHB outshot the Yellow Jackets 27-7 in the contest, putting 14 total shots on frame. Hoffmann led the Cru with five shots, putting three on frame while Kennedy Harris added three shots and Natalie Mason and Breland Mungia each put a pair of shots on goal.
 
Emma Edwards earned the win in the net for the Cru, making five saves with one goal allowed. UMHB limited the Yellow Jackets to just seven shots and only six on frame in the match.
 
The Cru will take on Hardin-Simmons University in the American Southwest Conference Championship on Sunday, November 10^th at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene.