Lexi Kent made two saves in the penalty kick shootout as the Truett McConnell women’s soccer team upset the top-seeded No. 15 Reinhardt Eagles Saturday night in the AAC Tournament Quarterfinal in Waleska, Georgia.
The Bears struck first in the 22nd minute when Jasmin Lanuza beat the Eagle goalie one-on-one to take a 1-0 lead.
The Eagles wasted no time tying the match up, scoring in the 30th minute. Both teams had many opportunities throughout the rest of regulation, but TMU could have ended the match with eight seconds left as Quiara Gebauer had a shot squeak just past the post as time ran out in regulation.
After no scoring in overtime, the game officially ended in a 1-1 tie, but to figure out who would advance to the semifinals, the game went to a shootout. After Lanuza and Elise Lombard scored goals to match Reinhardt’s, Kent made a huge save to open the door for Carson Batye, who nailed her penalty kick to put TMU up, 3-2, in the shootout. Kent made yet another save right after the Batye conversion, setting up the game-winning chance for Gebauer, who went upper right and converted to push the Bears into the semifinals for the second consecutive year.
The ninth-seeded Bears will take on fourth-seeded Tennessee Wesleyan in the semifinal of the AAC Tournament on Thursday in Athens, Tennessee. TMU and Tennessee Wesleyan will be joined by sixth-seeded Union and seventh-seeded Bryan in the semifinals.
TMU Men’s Soccer season ends
Meanwhile, in Athens, Tennessee, the Truett McConnell men’s soccer team fell at the hands of third-seeded Tennessee Wesleyan, 1-0, Saturday afternoon in the AAC Tournament Quarterfinal.
The Bears will finish the season at 8-9 overall.
Both teams were scoreless through the first 81:30 of the contest, but the Bulldogs drew a penalty kick in the 82nd minute and converted to take the 1-0 lead.
TMU outshot the Bulldogs 13-6 in the contest but could not get past Nick Croucher and put a goal on the board.
(feature photo/TMU Athletics)
