STEPHENVILLE, Texas — With 21 seconds to play, Tarleton State's
Zahra Friess had seemingly scored the conference championship-clinching goal. For a glorious few minutes, the Texans had won the UAC Red Division and were going to have the No. 1 seed that comes with a bye to the conference tournament semifinals.
Then a review happened.
On Friess' goal, officials overturned the call, claiming she fouled the defender on her scoring attack. So, no goal and pandemonium at the Tarleton State Soccer Complex in a scoreless draw between the Texans and Central Arkansas Bears on Sunday.
The Texans (7-3-9, 5-1-4 UAC) finished one point behind Abilene Christian (8-2-8, 5-0-5) for the UAC Red Division, needing either a Wildcat draw or loss if Tarleton State's match ended in a draw in order to win the title. If the Texans had won, they would have been UAC Red Division champs, and if Central Arkansas (7-6-6, 4-2-4 UAC) won with an ACU loss, the Bears would have been UAC Red Division champs.
Now, the Texans are the Red Division's No. 2 seed heading into the UAC Women's Soccer Championship. This is Tarleton State's second appearance in a postseason conference tournament in program history, and the Texans' best positioning entering the postseason. The Texans will open the single-elimination tournament on Sunday against the Blue Division's No. 3 seed Austin Peay (2-14-3, 1-7-2 UAC) on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 4 p.m. CT in Conway, Arkansas.
In Stephenville Sunday, the Texans closed the regular season with their Senior Day, celebrating six players who close their time with the Purple and White; fifth-year goalkeeper
Rylie Bloomfield, fifth-year midfielder
Peyton Bryant, senior defender
Isa Bergeron-Prejean, senior defender
Sydney White, senior goalkeeper
Emma Barnes, and junior midfielder/forward
Sam Cortez.
Tarleton State outplayed Central Arkansas throughout the match with a lead in possession time and a 22-10 shots advantage. The Texans had four shots on goal to UCA's three, and a 7-6 corner kick advantage, with 19 fouls called in the match, 11 on the Texans.
Friess,
Jessica Baires,
Adelaide Wyrzynski and
Victoria Lucksinger had shots on goal for the Purple and White.
Grace Berry had a team-high six shots, and Baires followed with five. Bloomfield pitched her fifth shutout of the year with three saves, playing all 90 minutes.
Zoe Ballard, Baires, Bryant, Berry and Bergeron-Prejan joined her in playing the entire match.
The Texans' postseason run begins at the Bill Stephens Soccer Complex in Conway on Nov. 8. There is free entry throughout the UAC Women's Soccer Championship.
The winner of the first round matchup between the Texans and Governors will advance to play the Blue Division's No. 1 seed in the semifinals, Eastern Kentucky, on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. CT.
