The No. 1 seeded Central Methodist women's soccer team claimed its third-straight Heart Conference Tournament Title, defeating Missouri Valley College in the championship match 5-2 Saturday night at Davis Field 

With the win, Central improves its overall mark to 19-1, while the Vikings fall to 14-5-1. 

Central jumped out in front in the 20th minute of play as senior Andrea Villar scored her 24th goal of the year in the 20th minute. Two minutes later, junior Maria Cervello padded the lead with her fifth goal of the season on an assist from sophomore Sandra Jakobsen. 

The Eagles took a comfortable 2-0 lead into the locker room at the halftime break.

Central’s offense exploded for three second-half goals in the span of just three minutes. Villar tallied her second goal of the match in the 72nd minute, followed by freshman Grace Faherty’s first goal of the year in the 75th minute. Senior Roneisha Frank put the Eagles up 5-0 with her 10th goal of the season less than 30 seconds later.

MVC battled back with two goals in the 84th minute, but could not further trim the deficit, as the Eagles went on to claim the tournament championship by a score of 5-2.

Central’s offense finished the evening with 24 shots including 10 on goal, compared to just 10 shots and six on goal for the Vikings.

Frank led the Eagles’ offense with five shots and three on goal, while Villar tallied five shots with two on goal.

Jakobsen, freshman Marcella Helena, and sophomore Kitti Torok each finished the evening with an assist. 

Central, seeded first in the Fayette bracket, will now wait to see who its opponents are in the NAIA National Championship Opening round starting Thursday in Columbia, Missouri at Battle High School.