OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 24, 2019) – With its Lone Star Conference schedule lightening up just a bit the last couple of weeks, Oklahoma Christian's women are starting to produce some wins.

The latest came on a wet, cold Thursday at the Eagle Soccer Field, as Denise Bennett and Natalie Thomas scored goals to left OC to a 2-0 win over Texas-Permian Basin, the Eagles' second W in their last four games.

"I was very proud of our team tonight," OC coach Meagan Anderson said. "With the conditions less than ideal, we went forward with our game plan. We talked all week about producing a result based on the work they have done. The girls did that tonight. With several girls stepping up their play, we had our best offensive night and our first shutout."

OC (2-11, 2-6 LSC) began its league campaign with games against the four top teams in the league standings. But since then, the Eagles have won at Texas A&M International and played competitively in losses at St. Mary's (Texas) and Midwestern State (Texas).

Thursday presented a whole different challenge, as the Eagles had to play in the worst weather conditions the program has experienced in recent years – 43 degrees, intermittent heavy rain throughout and a north wind at 12 mph (with gusts to 22 mph) that led to a wind chill of 37 degrees.

But Bennett, a sophomore forward from Lewisville, Texas, gave OC a momentum boost early, taking advantage of a defensive lapse by UTPB (1-10-1, 1-7-1). Natalie Thomas gained control of the ball in the fourth minute and passed it forward to Bennett in the penalty box, and Bennett beat UTPB goalkeeper Marlise Bond to put the Eagles ahead.

OC outshot the Falcons 20-15 and mostly controlled the action, playing both into and against the wind. Thomas made it 2-0 in the 47th minute, right after halftime, taking a long lead pass from Brianna Concienne and firing a shot that caromed off the crossbar into the goal.

The Falcons' best scoring chance came in the 77th minute, when OC goalkeeper Gabby Goddard parried a long shot by Gipsey Gonzalez over the crossbar. Goddard finished with eight saves for OC, while Bond had seven for UTPB.

OC picked up its first home win since a 2-1 decision over St. Mary's on Oct. 12, 2017, and the two-goal win represented the Eagles' first win by multiple goals since a 3-0 win over Rogers State on Sept. 29, 2016. OC now is tied for eighth in the Lone Star standings with six points.

"The thing about this team that I've never worried about is our relentlessness to compete game in and game out," Anderson said. "We did well tonight to get that result."

The Eagles will host Lubbock Christian (Texas), which is currently tied for fourth in the LSC, on Saturday at noon.