Clarksville, Ark.-The women's soccer team won its third straight match with a 1-0 victory over Howard Payne University Saturday in American Southwest Conference play.
The win also put Ozarks in great position to qualify for the playoffs. Currently, Ozarks stands in sixth place with two matches to go. The top eight teams qualify for the post-season. Ozarks will head to Texas to face Concordia University Texas October 30 and Mary Hardin-Baylor October 31.
Ozarks (5-9-2, 4-4-0 ASC) put on a dominating performance in the first half as the Eagles played with lots of energy and enthusiasm, which resulted in an attacking style of play. Ozarks scored in the 19th minute on Brittanie Gragg's header off a corner kick. Tiffany Robinson received the assist. It was Gragg's third game-winning goal of the season and Robinson's third assist of the year.
"Our girls again fought with passion and played for each other," said head coach Natalie Dreyer. "This is a special group of girls who have bought into the process since day one. This was a great way to go out on senior day. We took another step up the ladder and will get back to work before we head to Texas."
Ozarks played another strong second half on the attack and defensively. Frances Adams had a scoring opportunity early in the second half only to have Howard Payne goalkeeper Nicole Goodwin make a save. Later in the second half, Maggie Johnson sprinted towards goal and took a shot, but it went wide. Adams and Gragg each had three shots apiece.
Howard Payne falls to 3-8-2 overall and 2-6-2 in ASC play.
It was Megan Bradford's fourth shutout of the season in goal for Ozarks. She made five saves.
