MIAMI -- Rachel Holden, the Conference USA Co-Offensive Player of the Year, sent the North Texas soccer team into the conference tournament championship game with the game-winning goal against No. 5 Middle Tennessee on Friday afternoon at the FIU Soccer Stadium.
The win sends the Mean Green into Sunday's championship game against No. 2 Marshall. The winner of the championship game will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
In the 27th minute, Holden collected her own rebound at the top of the 18-yard box off a blocked shot and placed the ball into the lower right-hand corner of the goal.
The two teams had to withstand an extended halftime due to a lightning delay and then played in the rain for a good part of the second half.
The Mean Green held the advantage in all the statistical categories and controlled the majority of play.
For the second straight game, North Texas held a first-half lead and was able to play a more defensive formation in the second period.
Next up for North Texas
• North Texas will play No. 2 Marshall on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 10 a.m.
Mean Green Quick Hitters
• North Texas advances to its third straight Conference USA Championship game. NT is 0-2 in those games.
• North Texas has played in a conference tournament final for the last four years. In 2012, North Texas won the Sun Belt regular season title, the conference tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. All together, North Texas is playing in its 11th conference final in its program history.
• Jackie Kerestine recorded her 14th individual shutout, tying her own school record. The 15 team shutouts sets a team record.
• Rachel Holden scored her team-leading 12th goal of the season. The 12 goals ties her totals from her freshman year
• With her four saves today, Jackie Kerestine extends her season saves total to 111, moving into sole possession of fourth place on the single-season list.
