MEMPHIS - The Rhodes College field hockey team claimed their second consecutive Southern Athletic Association Championship on Sunday afternoon after defeated the Centre College Colonels by the score of 3-0. For Rhodes, it is their fourth SAA Championship in the last five seasons.

Rhodes claimed their 14th conference championship in program history and is now 4-1 over the Colonels in SAA Championships since the SAA formed in 2012. 

Despite the score, it was an intense matchup between the two rivals with both teams even in shots taken at nine. However, the Lynx had the advantage in shots on target at 6-2. Centre led the match in penalty corners at 9-6, but had no goals to show for it.

Early in the matchup, Centre set the tone as they got a pair of shots off to go with two penalty corners as they looked to find an early goal. Rhodes also had a yellow and green card in the first 10 minutes of the game.

However, the Lynx defense held strong against the early onslaught and the attack began to find their pace as they started to get shots off in Centre territory. Freshman Hailey Mules continued her terrific play as she scored to give Rhodes a 1-0 lead after she rebounded it in off a rip from sophomore Jillian Christensen.

Both teams went back-and-forth for the remaining 15 minutes as Centre looked to find an equalizer and Rhodes looked to increase their lead. However, the Lynx took their 1-0 lead into the break.

The intensity increased in the second half, but the likes of sophomore Abby Rockefeller, senior Erin Best, freshman Daryl Perry, and senior Mackenzie Busby were absolutely outstanding defensively as they kept Centre scoreless.

With around 12 minutes to go, Mules sent a beautiful pass into junior Lauren Travis, who beat her mark to push their lead out to two goals. Three minutes later, junior Maddie Smith iced the match with a goal as Rhodes was in control at 3-0.

The Lynx ran the clock out and the large crowd on hand at Mason Field went into a frenzy as Rhodes claimed another conference title.

Mules was named Tournament MVP after scoring four goals to go with two assists in two games including both game winning goals while Busby, Best, and Rockefeller earned spots on the All-Tournament Team. 

Travis and Mules, along with senior Christina DiFelice and sophomore Lizzie Wood, put together a terrific game in the Lynx attack all afternoon. Junior Laura Eckelkamp had two saves in the shutout and was outstanding in closing any sort of attacks from the Colonels.

Rhodes finishes the year at 15-2 and will wait on the announcement from the NCAA regarding the postseason. Despite winning the conference, the Lynx do not receive an Automatic Qualifier into the NCAA Championship, but have high hopes in receiving an At-Large bid. The announcement will be made this evening at 11:30 PM ET on ncaa.com.