HANOVER, Ind. -- The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology women's soccer team wins the 2022 HCAC Tournament Championship and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament next weekend after a 1-0 victory at Hanover College on Saturday afternoon.

The first half of action was incredibly defensive with only three total shots taken in the half. 

The second half was more of the same from both teams, but the Fightin' Engineers found the game-winner in the 70th minute from their leading goal scorer, Kyra Hicks. The goal came on an assist from Lane Lawrence.

The Fightin' Engineers would outshoot the Panthers 7-6 with a 5-2 edge in shots on goal.

Natalie Dillon made two big saves for Rose-Hulman to earn a clean sheet and help secure the team's third ever bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Hicks was the lone Fightin' Engineer with multiple shots as she tallied three.

In addition to winning the championship, the Fightin' Engineers had four players named to the HCAC All-Tournament team. Natalie Dillon, Grace Hobson, and Lane Lawrence were named to the all-Tournament team, and Kyra Hicks was named the 2022 HCAC Tournament MVP following her game-winning goal in the 70th minute of the championship match.

Rose-Hulman has reached the NCAA Division III Tournament for the third time in program history.  The Fightin' Engineers made previous NCAA appearances in 2007 and 2019, and will seek the first NCAA Tournament team victory in any women's sport next weekend.

Rose-Hulman (10-2-6) will find out their destination in the NCAA Tournament during the selection show at 2:00 PM on NCAA.com.  The Fightin' Engineers have not been beaten since their 0-2 start to the season. They have tied the school record for 16 consecutive games without a loss and will look to break the record in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.