DALLAS, TEXAS — Connor Lofy's 71st-minute header lifted Washington past fifth-ranked SMU 1-0 Sunday in a tightly contested NCAA Division I Championship match. The Huskies, riding a two-game winning streak, broke through late against the Mustangs in front of 2,367 fans at SMU's home venue, securing a spot in the tournament's next round.
Lofy's goal came off a corner kick, the decisive moment in a match that remained scoreless through 70 minutes of intense back-and-forth play. Washington's defense held firm despite SMU's pressure, while goalkeeper Jadon Bowton made a crucial save in the 36th minute to deny Mukisa Emmanuel and keep the match level at halftime.
The first half unfolded as a chess match between two evenly matched teams. Washington generated early chances through Asher Hestad and Richie Aman, with Hestad forcing a save from SMU goalkeeper Martin Dominguez in the sixth minute. SMU responded with its own attacking forays, but neither side could find the breakthrough. The Mustangs' defense, anchored by Alex Salvo and Ryan Clanton-Pimentel, frustrated Washington's attempts to build sustained pressure. Yellow cards to Alex Hall for Washington and Villads Landsperg for SMU added an edge to the physical contest.
Washington made three substitutions at halftime, bringing in Zack Meier and Richie Aman while shifting its formation. The tactical adjustment paid dividends as the Huskies controlled more of the second half. Nick O'Brien tested SMU's defense with a pair of efforts, while Zach Ramsey forced another save from Dominguez in the 51st minute. SMU created chances of its own—Stephan Soghomonian fired high in the 60th minute—but couldn't convert the opportunities that came their way.
As the match entered its final stages, Washington's pressure intensified. The Huskies earned multiple corner kicks, and from one of those set pieces in the 71st minute, Lofy rose above the SMU defense to head home the match-winner. It was a moment of clinical finishing that separated two teams that had battled evenly for over an hour.
Washington awaits the winner of KC and Stanford.