Box Score VERMILLION, S.D. -- Cindy Hedden's goal early in the second half was the difference as Houston Baptist edged The University of South Dakota women's soccer team, 2-1, in Great West Conference action Friday in Vermillion, S.D.

The two teams battled to a 1-1 halftime tie before Hedden's goal broke the tie.

Houston Baptist (5-6-1, 1-0 GWC) applied early pressure to USD, but Taura Truba (So., Coaldal, Alberta) kept USD close with five saves in the opening half.

After Houston Baptist got on the board when Gabby Trujillo scored on a corner kick, USD answered as Katie Quinones (Jr., Rochester, Minn.) scored off of an assist from Sarah Wheeler (Jr., Duluth, Minn.) with less than three minutes left in the half to tie the game at 1-1, which was the halftime score.

Hedden's goal came 3:47 into the second half. USD (3-8-1, 1-1 GWC) nearly responded less than two minutes later. Erin Bello (RFr., Fort Collins, Colo.) fired a shot that hit the top crossbar and just bounced off, keeping the game at 2-1.

The Coyotes had chances in the second half, outshooting the Huskies 9-8, but were unable to tie the game as Houston Baptist's Michelle Rich made five key saves to keep the game at 2-1.

"We played very hard today and dominated most of the second half," said USD coach Marcia Oliveira. "Our deficit in the first half cost us later, even though we tied the game. Our team gave a lot of work to Houston Baptist and almost scored on several occasions in the last 30 minutes of the game. It's too bad it did not turn our way. We had several chances."

Quinones had four shots for USD, while Bello and Katie Whithorn (Sr., Omaha, Neb.) had two shots each. Truba had six saves before leaving the game with an injury in the second half. Jen Ogren (Jr., Raymore, Mo.) had three saves.

USD resumes action on Sunday, Oct. 11 at home against Great West foe Utah Valley. The game, which is the Coyotes' final home game of 2009, begins at 1 p.m. at the USD Soccer Field.