DALLAS (Nov. 21, 2025) – In their longest game of the season, Texas Woman's soccer displayed great perseverance and determination at the time when such intangibles matters the most; topping No. 22 Colorado Mesa 1-0 in double overtime to advance to the second round in the 2025 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship. The win also marked the first NCAA Division II Tournament victory in program history, as TWU advanced to the round of 32 in just their third-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
The fourth-seeded and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champion Mavericks (14-4-2, 9-0-2), who had allowed only five goals all season entering the match, gave the fifth-seeded Pioneers (16-3-3, 9-2-3) a strong offensive challenge, outshooting TWU 18-10 (and 6-3 with SOG).However, goalkeeper Faith Graves continued to be the team's solid foundation, turning away six shots and guiding the team past seven corners – the most opportunities by a Pioneer opponent this season. The victory also marked TWU's 16th win of the year, setting a new program record after previously tying the high of 15 in 2019.
TWU did generate plenty of offense for themselves as well, creating nine corner opportunities. Both teams earned their final corner in the second overtime period; but the Mavericks' final attempt two minutes into the period was soon answered by Bri Luna's golden goal, her fourth of the season. Luna now has two go-ahead, game-winning goals in the Pioneers' last three postseason games. The match also officially became the longest game of the season for TWU, with the highest minute total played this year.
IMPACT PLAYERS
KEY MOMENTS
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21': The Pioneers earned their fifth corner opportunity within the first half of the first 45 minutes. While Graves and CMU goalkeeper Kendra Chapin kept the match scoreless, both offenses were humming from the beginning.
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53': Graves made her fifth save of the match in the midst of an early offensive flurry by the Mavericks to begin the second half. CMU came out of the half swinging, earning three corners in the first five minutes – however Graves was once again up to the task.
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107': The game winner was scored by Luna, capping an offensive push by the Pioneers which started three minutes prior. Four shots were tallied by TWU in the match's final stretch; three of which came from the boot of Luna at the 104th minute, and 24 seconds prior to the goal.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH BABAK ABOUZAR, BRI LUNA, AND ERICA BRELOVE
NEXT UP
The Pioneers are through to the second round of the NCAA Division II postseason tourney and will take on a familiar foe in the top-seeded Dallas Baptist Patriots on Sunday for a noon start. TWU and DBU last met Nov. 16 in the Lone Star Conference Championship final, with the Pioneers dropping a close 3-2 match.
-PIONEERS-
