Box Score MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The St. Thomas women's soccer team defeated USC Beaufort in dominant fashion, 8-0, on Thursday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the Sun Conference championships.  With the win, the Bobcats advanced to the conference semifinals where they will host SCAD Savannah, 12 p.m. Saturday at Bobcat Field.
 
St. Thomas extended its unbeaten streak to eight games outshooting USCB by a whopping total of 48-3, including a 25-0 shot advantage in the first half.  Center midfielder Melony Poviones recorded six points scoring two goals to go along with two assists.  Forward Sara Mira scored two goals and recorded one assist for a five-point game of her own.  Danelle Nguyen, Christina Salazar, Ashley Taylor, and Sarrah Granda scored goals as well.
 
The scoring began with a goal by Mira off a Poviones pass just 3:33 into the contest.  Less than two minutes later, Poviones scored on a long shot that sailed into the upper right corner of the net.  Mira placed a clever through pass to Nguyen who finished with a goal to make the score 3-0 in the 25^th minute.  Late in the first hald, Salazar came off the bench to score off a Poviones cross.
 
STU built on its 4-0 halftime lead, adding four more goals in the second half.  Taylor came off the bench to start the second half and was active at forward taking five shots, one of which she finished for her eighth coach of the year.  Mira and Poviones each scored their second goals, while Granda scored in the final minute of the game to complete the scoring.

Mira now has 16 goals this season, second best in the Sun Conference.  Poviones now has a team-best seven assists to go along with nine goals in 2012.
 
Senior goalkeeper Victoria Shahbaz registered her third shutout of the year, needing to make just three saves vs. the Sand Sharks.  The St. Thomas defense of Courtney Trujillo, Emelie Johansson, Alyssa Kilbride and Granda shut out an opponent for the sixth time this season.  The defense has not allowed more than one goal in a game over the past eight games with shutouts in three of the last four contests.
 
Sun Conference tournament play will continue on Saturday with second seeded St. Thomas playing third seeded SCAD Savannah at 12 p.m. at Bobcat Field.  SCAD Savannah defeated Thomas, 2-1 on Thursday in its quarterfinal.  The other semifinal will pit fourth seeded Webber International top seed Embry-Riddle to be played at 6 p.m. on Saturday evening.  The two semifinal winners will play in the conference championship game on Friday, November 9 with the highest remaining seed hosting.