OKLAHOMA CITY — Turning on the offensive firepower, the Newman women's soccer team inched closer to the postseason with a 7-2 victory over Oklahoma Christian Thursday evening in Heartland Conference play.

KEY SEQUENCE

Holding a comfortable margin in shots but looking at a tie game on the scoreboard, the Jets () picked up a pair of quick goals to change the path of the game in the first half against the Eagles (). Lexi Clark finished off a Colleen Howland cross in the 34th to make it 2-1, then Howland followed two minutes later with her second score of the game to give the guests control.

SCORING PLAYS

NU-24'-Colleen Howland, assist Rosa Urista-Chico
OC-28'-Darrian Palacios, unassisted
NU-34'-Lexi Clark, assist Howland
NU-36'-Howland, assist Karen Tamayo
NU-69'-Amy Strath, assist Howland
OC-77'-Corina Marin, unassisted
NU-87'-Howland, assist Sheree Molina
NU-88'-Emma Stewart, assist Molina
NU-90'-Molina, assist Kaitlyn Logan

HOW IT HAPPENED

-The Jets enjoyed a 14-5 shot advantage in the first half, but that didn't matter much after OC answered Howland's first goal in the 25th with the equalizer in the 28th. Eagle keeper Addison Milner stayed on her toes, making six saves in the first 24 minutes, including on a penalty kick in the eighth.

-The two quick goals to take it from 1-1 to 3-1 late in the first half were big, as Ashley Sweetnam was tested in the final five minutes, making two saves to keep the Jets ahead by two.

-OC started opening up the offense with more shots, but only one got through to Sweetnam in the first 25 minutes after halftime. Amy Strath came up big with the first score of the second half in the 69th, heading in a ball that was knocked along by Howland.

-A score by the Eagles in the 77th made it a little close for comfort at 4-2, but Newman seemed to take offense, giving up just one OC shot the rest of the way while peppering the hosts' goal with 11 shots, six on-goal, and three more scores to win going away.

NOTES

-Howland netted three goals and added two assists to put together an eight-point night. Sheree Molina was involved in all three late goals, going for a goal and two assists.

-This was the fifth time this season the Jets scored at least four goals in a game, and the eighth time they've netted at least three.

PLAYOFF PICTURE

With the win, Newman has a three-point lead for the fourth and final spot in the Heartland Conference tournament. That lead is over Lubbock Christian, who the Jets play in Saturday's regular-season finale. Any win or tie by Newman locks up the postseason bid, but a win by the Chaps creates a tie in the standings. Unofficial calculations show LCU needing a win by two or more goals to best the Jets in the Heartland's tiebreaker procedures.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Jets head to Lubbock, Texas for a 2:30 matchup Saturday afternoon against the Chaparrals.