ROUND ROCK, Texas** – Emma Payne, a sophomore forward, starred for Concordia University (Texas) with two goals in a 3-0 win over Austin College. This victory moved the Tornados into the semifinal round of the tournament.
Payne’s goals were her first of the season and made her the first player to score twice in a SCAC women’s tournament game since 2022. She opened the scoring in the 29th minute after an assist from Shelby Jones. Just a few minutes later, Haley Lopez added to the lead with her fifth goal of the season. Payne sealed the match with her second goal in the 75th minute, with another assist from Tatum Winn.
In total, Concordia had 19 shots, with 11 on target. This solid performance showed their growing strength in the tournament.
Key Players
- Emma Payne: 8 shots, 5 on goal, 2 goals
- Haley Lopez: 1 shot, 1 on goal, 1 goal
- Tatum Winn: 1 shot, 2 assists
- Avery Wright (GK): 90 minutes, 0 goals allowed, 8 saves; she also reached 200 career saves.
For Austin College, Rylie Balderas and Emeri Watson each had three shots, with Balderas hitting two on target.
Historical Context
This win marked Concordia’s first SCAC tournament victory. Last year, they were eliminated in their first semifinal. Facing Texas Lutheran again brings back memories of their previous match, where they narrowly lost 1-0.
Austin College made its first postseason appearance since the 2020-21 season but ended with a record of 7-6-3.
Looking Ahead
Concordia, now standing at 6-8-4, prepares to face Texas Lutheran, the top seed, in the semifinals. In the regular season, Texas Lutheran edged Concordia 1-0, raising the stakes for their upcoming match.
For further information on the SCAC championships, visit the Official Championships Website or check the Tournament Stats here.
