FORT WORTH, TX:  The Texas Wesleyan University women's soccer team (11-6-1) came up on the short end of a 1-0 score against the University of Science & Arts (OK) (12-7-1) in a thrilling, rain-soaked battle during the Sooner Athletic Conference Semifinals at Martin Field Monday night.
 
Rain and deteriorating field conditions played a major role on both sides throughout the contest.
 
"I'm incredibly proud of every kid on this team," Head Coach Josh Gibbs said after the game.  "It's a cruel game, and it was always going to come down to a goal like this.  Unfortunately, it went against us today."
 
USAO had an early opportunity in the 14th minute when Rhionnon Brewster's free kick glanced off a defender and was narrowly saved by Nikki Lockwood.  Two minutes later the ball bounced Texas Wesleyan's way when a free kick found Taylor Ross at close range, but the shot squibbed wide to the left.
 
In the 30th minute Drea Molina played a corner kick that ended with a shot being driven by Ross off the right post.
 
Through the first half of play, Texas Wesleyan outshot USAO 7-6 including a 4-2 count in shots on goal.  However, Lockwood and Brandi Hutchison kept the game scoreless.
 
In the 83rd minute, Brewster played a corner kick that set off a melee in the box.  The Drovers got off four shots in quick succession.  The first two were blocked by Ram defenders.  The third hit the right post and bounced back to Shannon Greenway who sent home the only goal of the game.
 
The Rams did not give in easily.  In the 87th minute Theresa Garsztecki got off a shot from pointblank range that was blocked out of bounds for a corner kick.  Molina's cross found Mattie Morris in the box, but her header sailed just high.
 
For the game, the Drovers outshot the Rams 17-16, although the Rams led 7-4 in shots on goal.  Texas Wesleyan led in corner kicks 11-6 and enjoyed a favorable 15-8 foul count.
 
Nikki Lockwood (9-4-1) made three saves in the loss, while Hutchison made seven stops to preserve the shutout.
 
With the win, USAO advances to face John Brown University in the SAC Championship game which will be held in Siloam Springs, AR, on Friday.
 
Texas Wesleyan's season ends with an overall record of 11-6-1.  After matching the program's longest losing streak with an 0-4 start, the Rams rattled off 8-straight wins and went 10 games without a loss (both school records).
 
Ramblings

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- Nikki Lockwood finished her four-year career with a record of 40-20-5 (.667) with 286 saves and a goals against average of 1.25.  She is the school's all-time record-holder in wins (40), saves (286), and shutouts (21).
 
- This was Texas Wesleyan's first loss at home this season and their first since October 29, 2015.  During that stretch the team went 8-0-1 at Martin Field.
 
- USAO leads the all-time series with Texas Wesleyan 8-3-2.  The Rams are 3-4 all-time in the SAC Tournament having reached the semifinal round in three of four years of membership.