LAKE CHARLES, La. – A first half goal from Hannah Bell was the difference on Friday night at Cowgirl Field to give the Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team a 1-0 win over McNeese and secure the No. 2 seed in the Southland Conference tournament.
 
A&M-Commerce finishes the regular season with a record of 9-6-3 overall and 7-1-2 in Southland Conference play. The 23 points for the Lions clinch the No. 2 seed in next week's SLC Tournament, which begins on Wednesday in Corpus Christi.
 
The full bracket of the SLC Tournament will be announced by the conference office later on Friday night following the conclusion of all matches. McNeese, despite the loss, will be the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament. Both teams are slated for a rematch in the semifinals if they both win their first round matches.
 
The record of 9-6-3 also secures a winning season for the Lions, which is the first winning record for any sport at A&M-Commerce in the Division I era.
 
The two teams totaled 13 shots in the first half, but there was no score on the board until the 38^th minute.
 
Following a Lion throw in, Camila Montero (Langham Creek) crossed in a ball from just far top right of the penalty box and the ball was headed in by Hannah Bell (Duncanville), for her ninth goal of her freshman season.
 
Gillian McKenzie played the entire match in goal and recorded five saves in goal, while McNeese's Briana O'Dell recorded two saves in the first half. Jackie Kelly did not see a shot on goal in the second half.
 
The Lions were led in shots by Kaydence Ramirez (Waxahachie), who had three, while both Kristen Sueltz (The Colony) and Marina Vera (Elko, Nev.) had two. Kaile Kukaua came off the bench and had three shots for the Cowgirls.
 
A&M-Commerce had the 11-10 shot advantage, 5-2 edge in saves, 6-5 advantage in saves, while Cowgirls had 11 fouls and the Lions had seven.


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