Women's Soccer 9/14/2008 12:00:00 AM

ORU Captures Tournament Title with 3-0 Shutout of Middle Tennessee State

TULSA – Oral Roberts University women's soccer team won the ORU-TU Invitational on Sunday afternoon with a 3-0 blanking of Middle Tennessee State at the Hurricane Soccer and Track Stadium on the campus of Tulsa University. The Golden Eagles won their third consecutive contest to improve to 3-2 this season, while Middle Tennessee State dropped to 1-4-2 overall.

"We're really proud of the girls' performance today," said ORU women's soccer head coach Ryan Bush. "It's important to win the tournament, and it was also our first shutout this season, which is another important positive. We defended well for 90 minutes and I'm really pleased with the defense and how they played on tired legs."

ORU senior Lorena Soto (Asuncion, Paraguay) broke the scoreless tie in the 26th minute, converting on a cross from Correne Walker (Greater Portmore, Jamaica) in traffic for her first goal of the season.

Twelve minutes later, Soto flipped the ball past defenders to fellow senior Natalya Manyan (St. Andrew, Jamaica), who looped the ball over the charging goalkeeper to give the Golden Eagles the 2-0 halftime lead.

Manyan would add some insurance at the 84:42 mark, getting by the goalkeeper to fire her fifth goal of the season from 10 yards out on the left wing after receiving a boot downfield from freshman Maria Grados (Stillwater, Okla.).

The two-goal performance was Manyan's second this season, as the ORU senior also posted two scores in a 3-1 victory over John Brown.

ORU sophomore goalkeeper Amanda Wheeler (Mission Viejo, Calif.) posted seven saves en route to her first collegiate shutout. The seven saves were one shy of a career high.

Tara Lomas (Pitt Meadows, BC, Canada) was named the tournament MVP after her two-goal performance lifted ORU past Arkansas State on Friday night.

The Golden Eagles have scored at least three goals in the last four consecutive contests after only achieving the feat twice last season.

ORU will return to the field against Tulsa at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night at the Hurricane Soccer and Track Stadium.

- ORU -

Box Score

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#23 Maria Grados: MF; 5' 4"; Redshirt; Stillwater

#2 Tara Lomas: MF; 5' 7"; Junior; Terry Fox Senior

#12 Natalya Manyan: F; 5' 8"; Senior; Excelsior HS

#10 Lorena Soto: MF/F; 5' 5"; Senior

#19 Correne Walker: MF/F; 5' 6"; Senior; Excelsior HS

Players Mentioned

#23 Maria Grados
: 5' 4"; Redshirt; Stillwater
: MF

#2 Tara Lomas
: 5' 7"; Junior; Terry Fox Senior
: MF

#12 Natalya Manyan
: 5' 8"; Senior; Excelsior HS
: F

#10 Lorena Soto
: 5' 5"; Senior
: MF/F

#19 Correne Walker
: 5' 6"; Senior; Excelsior HS
: MF/F