Nov. 7, 2004

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons and UT-Dallas played to a grueling 1-1 tie in the final of the American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament, but it was the Hardin-Simmons Cowgirls that took the title by virtue of penalty kicks (3-2) Saturday evening at Shelton Stadium in Abilene.

Neither team was able to get on the board until the 79th minute when All-American sweeper Mollie Porter knocked in a corner kick off a double assist from Jessica Flobeck and Mindi Zamora.

UT-Dallas refused to lie down. The Comets came back with a goal at the 88:25 minute mark of the second half, when Natalie Taylor knocked in a corner from Genny Nevit.

The Cowgirls had an opportunity to win the game in the "golden Goal" portion of the first overtime, but Porter missed a penalty kick after Mindi Zamora was tackled in the box. The game remained scoreless and went to penalty kicks.

In penalty kicks, the Cowgirls turned to goalkeeper and the top keeper in HSU history and one of the top in NCAA history was up to the challenge.

Kala Chalman scored the first kick for the Cowgirls and Goold then was able to stop a Kelli Jackson shot for UTD to give the Cowgirls the lead. Stefanie Patterson the made her shot and Nevit hit for UTD. Whitney Piendak scored for HSU and Tiffany Knobloch made it 3-2 HSU going into the fourth of five kicks.

Katie Johnson then made back-to-back saves for UTD. Cassidy Acuff had the fifth shot for UTD and her shot ended up in the arms of Goold to give the Cowgirls their seventh American Southwest Conference title.

"I am just so happy right now I don't know what to say," said Goold, who was named the tournaments MVP. "It is so amazing to be around a group of girls that believe in themselves and each other."

Goold finished with nine saves in the game and Johnson had 14 for UTD. HSU outshot the Comets 22-15 in the game. HSU now has a 54-game unbeaten streak at home, dating back to 1999.

HSU moved to 17-1-1 (the game actually goes on the record as a tie and the shootout stats do not count in the final stats). UT-Dallas finished its season with a 16-3-2 mark. HSU advances to the NCAA Tournament with the win and will find out later this evening who they will play.