WINCHESTER, Va. - The Shenandoah University women's soccer team took over first place in the USA South with a 2-0 victory over Averett Sunday afternoon.

Shenandoah (12-5, 6-1 USA South) keeps its hopes alive for a regular season title with the shutout victory over previous conference leader Averett (12-3, 6-2).

SU now has a one-half game lead over Greensboro for first place in the 10-team league. The Hornets have two games remaining - on Friday at home against Mary Baldwin and on Saturday at Christopher Newport - and will win its second-ever regular season title with two victories.

The Saturday night game in Newport News will likely decide the regular season title. CNU currently has a 4-1-1 league mark with games remaining against Peace and N.C. Wesleyan in addition to the Shenandoah contest.

Junior Amber Womack tallied what proved to be the game-winner Sunday by heading home a Hannah Oakes cross in the 22nd minute.

With just under 10 minutes to play, Womack also figured in the Hornets second goal.

Awarded a corner, Womack drove the ball into the middle of the pitch, where Katie Cataldo deflected it to freshman Taylor Oehm on the doorstep. Oehm knocked it past Cougars keeper Malin Borjesson for the final tally of the contest.

For the second straight afternoon, the SU defense was stellar in recording the shutout. AU had five shots, but only one on goal all afternoon.

Hornets keeper Kat Terza made that save to post her fifth shutout of the season and record-setting 15th of her career.

SU had five of the game's nine corners.

Friday's game against MBC is also Senior Night. Game time is 6 p.m.

###