GEORGETOWN, TX- The Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders women's soccer team traveled the short trip on I-35 for a non-conference 7:00 PM matchup versus the Pirates Women's team at Southwestern University. 

The Cru came into the match ranked second regionally, 3-0, and the defending ASC Champions. The Pirates started the game with tough, tenacious, and scrappy defense led by Lilly Van Meter and Kate Nguyen. Both Van Meter and Nguyen were not allowing the Cru to get anything going offensively and were also pushing the pace from their defensive end. They were sending through balls for the Pirates and were able to position themselves past half-field at times to allow the Pirates to be more of an offensive threat than we've seen in the previous three games. 

The Cru and the Pirates went into halftime tied 0-0. 

Early in the second half, Jayme Dowell of the Cru scored the match's lone goal. Coach Hamilton performed some substitutions and #16 Grace Laase was an immediate spark off the bench for the Pirates. She had a beautiful trap and spin around a Cru midfielder and looked to push her way into scoring position for the Pirates, only to be fouled by the Cru. The Pirates were awarded a free kick roughly 10 yards beyond the keeper's box. Samantha Hazen stepped up and placed the ball around the Cru's  3-man wall and just out of reach for the keeper to give the Pirates their first goal of the 2023 season and to tie the game.

Johnna Campbell finished with ten saves as the Pirates goalie, but it wasn't enough as the Cru were able to sneak in another goal and walk away with the 2-1 victory. 

The Pirates continue their tough preseason with another home match, Friday, September 15 at 5:00 PM versus McMurry.