ROUND ROCK, TX- The McMurry Women's Soccer team completed their championship season on Sunday, capturing the SCAC Tournament title with a 1-0 shutout victory over Concordia in a fiercely contested final. The win, an intense rematch of their 0-0 regular-season tie, improves the War Hawks' record to 11-3-5 overall and 8-0-3 in the SCAC.

From the whistle, the War Hawks took control, dictating play and aggressively challenging the Concordia defense. McMurry dominated the first half with 12 shots, three of which were on target, but the Tornado goalkeeper held firm, keeping the game knotted 0-0 at the break.

The second half began with renewed purpose, and the War Hawks' persistence finally paid off in the 54th minute (53:51), when midfielder Halin Griffith became the hero of the day, netting the championship-winning goal unassisted. The goal, Griffith's second of the season, came just under nine minutes into the second period, electrifying the War Hawk bench.

The defense was impenetrable throughout the match. Goalkeeper Avery Anders commanded the box, securing her second consecutive shutout in the tournament. Anders finished the game with two key saves against the few opportunities Concordia created, ensuring the 1-0 lead held.

The War Hawks' offense finished the day with a stunning 24 shots, forcing the Concordia keeper to make eight saves. Leading the relentless attack was Laila Brown, who recorded seven shots (two on target).

Midfielders Alexis Lira and Halin Griffith both finished with four shots each, creating constant pressure and opportunities in the attacking third. Cienna Rodriguez and Hailey Donaldson each also registered a shot on goal for the War Hawks.

NOTABLES

• The championship marks the first for the War hawks across any league and will be the first NCAA Tournament appearance for McMurry Women's Soccer. 
• McMurry becomes the fourth different team to win the SCAC Women's Soccer Championship in conference history. 
• First-year midfielder Halin Griffith was named the tournament's Most Valuable Offensive Player. She notched the gamewinner Sunday, her second goal of the season. 
• Senior defender Katie Wilson was named SCAC Tournament Defensive MVP anchoring the War Hawks defense that shutout both opponents over the tournament. Wilson was on the field for all 180 minutes of the War Hawks' SCAC Tournament appearance. 
• The two tournament shutouts were the 10th and 11th of the season for the War Hawks. 
• This marked the ninth consecutive year the championship winning team has not allowed a goal scored during the tournament.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

• Samantha Barrett, Sr., D (Hendrix)
• Ava Puente, Fy., M (Hendrix)
• Aliyah Fonseca, So., M (Texas Lutheran)
• Alyssa Ibanez, So., M (Texas Lutheran)
• Avery Wright, Sr., GK (Concordia)
• Emma Payne, So., F (Concordia)
• Avery Walker, Sr., M (Concordia)
• Laila Brown, So., F (McMurry)
• Avery Anders, Jr., GK (McMurry)
• Katie Wilson, Sr., D (McMurry) – Tournament Defensive MVP
• Halin Griffith, Fy., M (McMurry) – Tournament Offensive MVP

UP NEXT

As SCAC tournament champions, McMurry will receive the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament and will find out its opponent when brackets are released tomorrow during the selection show on Monday, November 10th, at 10:00 a.m. The first and second rounds will be played Saturday-Sunday, November 15-16. The NCAA Selection Show can be streamed here.