DENTON, Texas (Nov. 1, 2025) – On Senior Day, Texas Woman's soccer achieved an important step toward earning a berth in the Lone Star Conference playoffs, collecting its third straight win and 10th shutout with a 2-0 victory over St. Edward's at Pioneer Soccer Park.
With the Hilltoppers (6-9-2, 5-6-2) seeking a spoiler role, SEU put pressure on the Pioneers (12-2-3, 8-2-3) early and kept the game scoreless through the first half. In the first 45 minutes, SEU notched an early corner opportunity and recorded four shots, with only one requiring a save by Pioneer goalkeeper Faith Graves.
It was TWU's turn to apply early pressure to start the second half, with a corner chance turning into senior Mia Thaxton's second goal of the season in the 49th minute. One minute later, Giselle Gutierrez finished a shot over the SEU goalkeeper for her 10th of the year and TWU's second of the game. The win keeps the Pioneers in fifth place in the conference with one game remaining.
IMPACT PLAYERS
KEY MOMENTS
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27': Graves made the first of four saves in the match. In a first half marked by early SEU pressure, the sophomore goalkeeper stood tall to keep the Pioneers in it, earning her third straight clean sheet.
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49': Thaxton capitalizes on an early corner opportunity in the second half, heading it home to open the scoring. On the day she and five other seniors were honored, Thaxton scored her first goal since the season opener against East Central.
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50': Gutierrez displayed great patience and finesse, arcing a shot over the SEU goalkeeper and into the right side of the net for her 10th of the season. With the goal, Gutierrez became the first Pioneer to record a double-digit scoring season since Haley Ward in 2018, who holds the all-time single-season scoring record with 11 that year.
FROM HEAD COACH BABAK ABOUZAR
"The first half wasn't our best performance, but I'm proud of how our team responded and scored two really good goals in the first five minutes of the second half," Coach Abouzar said. "This late in the season, it's about grinding it out and finding a way to win, and we did just that. Faith came up with some big saves, and Mia and Giselle finished some nice opportunities. We'll enjoy this and rest up for our last regular-season game."
NEXT UP
The Pioneers close out the 2025 regular season at Pioneer Soccer Park on Tuesday, hosting the Angelo State Rambelles at 6 p.m. A win would secure a berth in the Lone Star Conference playoffs.
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