Oct. 26, 2012

Tulsa, Oklahoma -

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Box Score

Box Score in PDF

The Tulsa women's soccer team concluded regular season action with a 2-1 win over SMU on Friday night at the Hurricane Soccer and Track Stadium. TU moved to 11-5-3 on the season and 6-3-2 in Conference USA, while SMU fell to 8-7-4 overall and 4-3-4 in the league.

Tonight's win gave TU it's 11th win on the season, the most since TU went 13-6-1 in 2000. The Golden Hurricane already guaranteed a winning season and posted double-digit wins for the second consecutive year.

"It is a huge tribute to this senior class," Head Coach Kyle Cussen said. "These guys came in when we were turning this program around. I told them before the game that it was hard to get emotional because it is their last game at home, but we have more games to play. It is a huge tribute to them that we are playing in November. Two seniors scored tonight, which is a perfect ending to the home season. I thought the team played hard tonight, we went through a lull in the later part of the first half, but we came out in the second half and created some chances. I am so pleased with the win and with how we played on senior night. The seven seniors deserve this night."

Senior Rebecca Handley put Tulsa on the board as she punched in a goal from five yards out off a cross from classmate Claire Hulcer at the 32:50 mark. This was Handley's seventh goal on the season and her third goal in as many games.

Shelby Redman evened the score less than a minute later as she drilled in a penalty kick after TU was called for a foul in the box.

In the second half, senior Stephanie Aitken redirected a shot taken by Jordan O'Brien to score the game-winner in the 70th minute.

Hulcer, Aitken and Bradi Hinch each had three shots in the contest, while Camille Pelley and Handley both had two attempts. Senior Katie Bykowski played all 90 minutes between the posts and picked up four saves.

Tulsa had a 16-11 lead in shots, including a 10-5 advantage in shots on goal, while the Mustangs had a 7-3 lead in corner kicks.

After the game TU honored its seven seniors, including Aitken, Bykowski, Rachel Garcia, Handley, Hulcer, Lexis Learmonth and Shelby Steele.

Tulsa will learn its seed and opponent in the Conference USA Championship, hosted by UTEP in El Paso, Texas, when the league announces the bracket later tonight.

Scoring Summary
Tulsa	1	1	-	2
SMU	1	0	-	1
Individual Scoring
Rebecca Handley (Tulsa) at 32:50 (Claire Hulcer)
Shelby Redman (SMU) at 33:38 (penalty kick)
Stephanie Aitken (Tulsa) at 69:37 (Jordan O'Brien)
Goalkeeper Saves
Katie Bykowski (Tulsa) - 4
Lauryn Bodden (SMU) - 8