RUSTON, La. – Kalli Matlock's first-half goal, combined with some shut down defense, propelled No. 6 seed Louisiana Tech to a 1-0 upset victory over No. 3 seed WKU on a chilly Wednesday night at Robert Mack Caruthers Field. 
 
With the win, LA Tech (6-10-3) advances to the Conference USA Tournament semifinals to take on No. 2 seed Liberty on Friday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. at The Mack. 
 
The Bulldogs came into the match with only two shutouts on the season.  They picked a great time to pick up shutout No. 3, keeping WKU (6-5-7) at bay the majority of the night. 
 
Each squad had five shots in the first half, but it was senior Kalli Matlock who ended up finding the back of the net.  Nearing halftime in the 40th minute, the wing back made her way inside the 18 gaining possession of the ball.  After a couple of dribbles, she sent a left-footed shot over the reach of the opposing keeper into the far corner. 
 
The Hilltoppers nearly equalized three minutes later when Brooke Sleeva had a 1v1 opportunity in the box, but her right-footed shot drifted wide of the left post.  
 
After securing a 1-0 halftime advantage, LA Tech kept the pressure on, maintaining possession for much of the second half.  The Bulldogs ended up a plethora of 50-50 balls, helping generate a 7-3 shot advantage and 5-3 corner kick edge.  
 
Goalkeeper Emma Duguay and the Bulldog defense held firm, securing the 1-0 win and a place into the semifinals for the first time since 2018.


QUOTABLES
Head coach Steve Voltz
 
"This was the best complete game I've seen us play. It was just fun, I barely got up and coached or we barely substituted it was literally if it ain't broke don't fix it. We were  invested that we changed a couple of things tactically from the last time we played them and it worked. We won a couple of corner kicks that we needed that's how they scored on us the last time we played. We made a couple of small changes, and the players bought in, and that's just the way they defended in our final third. They weren't even letting them out pressing and winning 50/50 balls and keeping majority of the play down on their end. I am excited we get to do this in front of our fans on Friday against a good Liberty squad, who one of the elite teams in the country." 
 
NOTABLE

• LA Tech outshot WKU 12-8 in the entire game.
• Bulldogs had 8 corner kicks in the game 
• First C-USA Conference Tournament win at home. 
• Kalli Matlock scored her 4th goal on the year 

 
UP NEXT
LA Tech faces Liberty on Friday, Nov. 3 at Robert Mack Caruthers Field in the CUSA Conference Tournament Semifinal. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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