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ABILENE, TX (11.08.14) - The nationally-ranked Hardin-Simmons Cowgirls netted a pair of second half goals Saturday afternoon to move past the UT Dallas women in the semifinals of the American Southwest Conference Tournament, 2-0.

After a fairly even battle in the first half, HSU (15-2-0) came out energized in the second half and Julianne Kucera finally put the Cowgirls on the scoreboard with the game's first goal just four minutes later. She later gave the Cowgirls an insurance goal in the 76th minute to ice the win.

The Cowgirls advance to their 17th consecutive ASC title game, and have won all but two of them since 1998. UTD last defeated HSU in a tournament final in 2002, and tied the Cowgirls in 2004 before losing in a penalty kick shootout.

UTD played HSU evenly for the first 45 minutes, building a 9-6 shot advantage while both teams put three shots on goal. But after the break, the Cowgirls picked up steam and outshot the Comets, 11-3, putting seven shots on goal in the final 45 minutes. UTD, meanwhile, did not get a shot on goal after halftime.

Comet keeper Macaire Ament stopped eight HSU shots, five in the second half. 

HSU enjoyed a  6-1 edge in corner kicks, including five in the second period. 

UTD's Nicole Frank and Andrea Guevara were named to the All-Tournament team.

For the Comets, the loss could mean the end of the 2014 season and careers for nine UTD players. UTD posted a 13-5-1 record in head coach Kanute Drugan's first season at the helm, with four of the losses coming in close contests with nationally-ranked teams (HSU twice, Trinity and NAIA power Carroll). The NCAA will annonce its national tournament field on Monday7.