Nov. 5, 2004

ABILENE, Texas - Austin College and Mississippi College advanced to the semifinals of the American Southwest Conference Women's Soccer Championship Tournament with first round wins, Friday at Hardin-Simmons' Shelton Stadium.

Austin College took the first game on penalty kicks and Mississippi College won the nightcap 2-0. Both teams were the lower seeded teams as Austin College was seeded sixth and MC was seeded fifth.

Game One - Austin College 1, Texas Lutheran 1 (AC 4-2 in PKs) Texas Lutheran played the last 46 minutes of the game two players down after Danielle Bekham received her second yellow card of the game. Austin College only had one shot on goal when they were playing 11 on 9.

TLU was the first team on the board in the 55th minute when Angie Valencia scored. AC tied the game in the 61st minute when Colleen Walsh found Mary Carrier.

When the games went to penalty kicks both teams alternated makes and misses in the first two tries. In the third try, TLU's Michelle Lind missed her attempt and AC's Karen McPherson found the back of the net. Casey Rheman and Maggie Rush both made the fourth attempt and AC sealed the win as goalkeeper Alyssa Condon stopped Amanda Almanza on the fifth shot to give Austin College the 4-2 penalty kick win.

The Kangaroos (11-7-1) advance to the semifinals to play UT-Dallas in the semifinals at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. TLU finished its season at 14-5.

Game Two - Mississippi College 2, East Texas Baptist 0 Mississippi College scored with three seconds remaining in the first half to take a 1-0 lead. Laura Leigh Ellis took the ball with 10 seconds remaining in the half and fired a shot from about 12 yards out.

Jennifer Benson added a security goal in the 85th minute off an assist from Tina Deshotels. Bethany Harris was perfect in goal with 10 saves.

MC will play tournament host Hardin-Simmons at 3:30 on Saturday. East Texas Baptist's season is complete at 11-5-1.