SAN MARCOS, Texas — Lauren Allison scored in the 20th minute and South Alabama soccer held off Western Kentucky to win the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship for the first time in program history on Sunday at the Bobcat Soccer Complex.
The title gives the Jaguars the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, the first NCAA appearance in program history.
Allison Named Most Outstanding Player
Allison’s goal was her 16th of the season and her second of the tournament, and she was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
She was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammates Melissa Drish, Clarissa Hernandez, Nini Rabsatt-Smith and Shelby Owen.
The Deciding Goal
Allison took a pass from Morgan Motes and drove past several Western Kentucky defenders on a breakaway before scoring in the 20th minute.
The Lady Toppers outshot South Alabama 16-14 in the match, including 11-5 in the second half. Western Kentucky’s best chances came in the first half, when freshman Haley Baldridge and sophomore Alanna Clancey each had shots from the right side of the box blocked.
The win avenged a 1-0 loss to Western Kentucky late in the regular season.
Winkworth Earns First Conference Title
The championship is the first Division I conference title for first-year head coach Graham Winkworth.
“This is a great feeling,” Winkworth said. “This was some excellent passing soccer, the best all season. And the girls defended magnificently today. We’re going to enjoy every moment of this and the rest of our season.”
Selection Show Monday
The Jaguars will learn their NCAA Tournament opponent and site Monday when the bracket is announced at 3:30 p.m. Central on NCAA.com.
South Alabama is hosting a selection show watch party from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday at Heroes Sports Bar & Grill on Hillcrest Road near Old Shell Road in Mobile.
NCAA Tournament Schedule
The NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship will be played over five rounds:
- First round: Nov. 15, 16 or 17 at 32 sites
- Second and third rounds: Nov. 22 and 24 at eight sites
- Quarterfinals: Nov. 29, 30 or Dec. 1 at four sites
- Women’s College Cup: Dec. 6 and 8 in Cary, N.C.
