No. 1 Bears Endure 1-0 Battle with No. 4 Richland

DALLAS -- In a game that took on the shape of the first go-around between the two teams, No. 1 Dallas College Brookhaven used a late goal to beat host No. 4 Dallas College Richland, 1-0, Tuesday night.

Alexa Bezpalko found Whitni Newbill for the gamewinning goal in the 85th minute as the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III's top-ranked team took a one-game lead in the Dallas Athletic Conference standings. Both teams, which tied 1-1 in the first meeting on Sept. 16, entered the game with identical conference records after the first round of league play. With four games remaining in the league's regular season, Brookhaven (7-0-1, 5-0-1 DAC) has the upper hand on hosting the league postseason tournament Oct. 26-29. 

Richland (4-4-1, 4-1-1) had a chance to send the game to overtime in the final minute following a yellow card, but the free kick caromed off to the right, and the Bears held on.

Newbill notched her team-leading eighth goal of the season, while Bezpalko's assist gave her 17 points. Newbill has 20 points.

Bears goalkeepers Hayli Nichols (7-0-1) and Cameron Watson shared the shutout, each playing a half. It was the fifth time this year the pair between the posts combined on a clean sheet. Nichols stopped one shot in the first half, and Watson made two saves in the second. 

Brookhaven got off eight of its 11 shots in the second half. The Bears put four on frame, forcing Richland keeper Ilce Miranda to make three saves.

The Bears will host Dallas College North Lake Friday at 6 p.m. to begin a three-game homestand.