CONWAY, Ark. — It took 90 minutes of regulation, 20 minutes of extra time, a full penalty kicks session, and then a winner-take-all round of PK's to bounce Tarleton State from the UAC Women's Soccer Championship on Wednesday night.
In a nearly three-hour match, 2-seed Tarleton State (8-3-10) and 1-seed Eastern Kentucky (10-6-4) finished regulation and extra time at 0-0. They were also tied 2-2 in the five-round PK's, but EKU advanced to the title match on penalty kicks 3-2.
It was a teeter-totter in PK's throughout, as Tarleton State fifth-year goalkeeper
Rylie Bloomfield battled UAC Goalkeeper of the Year Jordan LeVasseur. The UAC Offensive Player of the Year
Jessica Baires got first crack in the PK's, but LeVasseur turned her away to give EKU an early advantage. EKU then missed wide left on its first offensive attempt, but then so did Tarleton State. EKU converted on its second attempt to make it 1-0 in PK's.
Isa Bergeron-Prejean quickly countered with a shot into the top right of the net to tie it 1-1. Three straight misses by the teams led to a
Zoe Ballard make to give the Texans a 2-1 lead on Tarleton State's fifth attempt. But the Colonels converted to advance it to a round-by-round PK's. Tarleton State missed, then LeVasseur herself buried one to advance the Colonels to the title match.
The two halves were fairly opposite on Wednesday night at the Bill Stephens Complex in Conway, Arkansas. EKU was on the attack the first 45 minutes, outshooting Tarleton State 7-0 and owning a 7-0 corner kick advantage. Tarleton State tilted the field its way in the second half, outshooting EKU 9-7 with a 5-0 shots on goal advantage.
Bloomfield earned seven saves to no goals allowed in 110 minutes, and LeVasseur had six saves with a clean sheet in 110 minutes.
Adelaide Wyrzynski had a team-high four shots and three shots on goal. Bloomfield,
Zoe Daly, Ballard, Baires,
Peyton Bryant,
Zahra Friess,
Grace Berry and Bergeron-Prejean played all 110 minutes.
Victoria Lucksinger led a bench of three with 86 minutes, taking three shots.
Eastern Kentucky now advances to the title match to play the Red Division's No. 1 seed Abilene Christian on Saturday at 7 p.m.
The Texans have enjoyed their best season in program history. The Texans earned their most conference wins, scored their most goals in a single-season in program history, and secured their best winning percentage in a single-season.
The NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament Selection Show will be on Monday, Nov. 16, at 3 p.m. CT on NCAA.com.
