Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- A goal in the first four minutes and a penalty save with less than two minutes left provided the difference Thursday as Dallas Baptist University defeated St. Edward's University, 1-0, in the South Central Regional final of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer National Tournament at Harrington Field.

Dallas Baptist (15-3-3), the No.2 seed in the region, will face the West Region champion (either Western Washington or Azusa Pacific) in a national quarterfinal Saturday at 1 p.m. PST.

Senior forward Ashley Cox notched the game-winner for the Patriots just 3:48 into the game with the first shot attempt for either team. Cox beat three defenders on the left side, cutting back toward the middle with her final touch and then firing a shot inside the right post from 18 yards out.

St. Edward's (14-7-1), the region's No. 5 seed, had their best chance to equalize when Jennifer Boudreau beat a defender on the dribble and then was fouled in the penalty area. But Patriot goalkeeper Jenna Ackerly dived to her right to punch away the penalty attempt of Katie Donahue, preserving the victory for DBU.

It was the fourth meeting of the season between the Heartland Conference rivals, with Dallas Baptist winning all four, three of them by a single goal.