ALVA, Okla. – Behind two goals and one assist from
Bryson Thomas, the Ouachita Tigers defeated the Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers 4-0 on Thursday night. The Tigers move to 4-0 in Great American Conference play.
Ouachita (4-4, 3-0 GAC) grabbed an early lead with a goal by
Natalia Arteaga in the ninth minute of the match. Arteaga headed the ball into the back of the net, after receiving a cross from Thomas. The goal was Arteaga's first of the season, and Thomas picked up her first assist.
The first half ended with Ouachita leading 1-0, with the Tigers attempting 11 shots. Northwestern Okla. was held to only four shots, and
Lauren Llanes stopped all three shots on goal.
The Tigers added to their lead in the second half, when
Haley Hatcher scored her fifth goal of the season in the 59
th minute.
Miranda Hudleston assisted on the goal, her second in 2015.
After 30 minutes of scoreless play, Thomas took control of the match, scoring two goals over a span of one minute and nine seconds.
Kasey Smith assisted on the first goal, and
Lynzie Moore added the assist of Ouachita's fourth and final goal of the match in the 90
th minute.
Ouachita finished with 21 shots, with eight shots on goal. The Tigers held the Rangers to only 12 shots in the match, and Llanes stopped all seven shots on goal. Hatcher had a match-high seven shots, followed by Thomas and
Morgan Allen with three each.
The Tigers will stay in Oklahoma for another conference match on Saturday against Southwestern Oklahoma State. The match in Weatherford is scheduled for 1 p.m.