KISSIMMEE, Fla. – After digging an early 3-0 hole, the Lady Tigers battled back, but fall in PKs, 4-2.
Playing tough defensively, the Lady Tigers fell behind early after conceding a 15
th minute goal from Cassidi Calzaretta. With OUAZ controlling much of the first half, CU was only able to put up three shots, entering halftime trailing 1-0.
Coming out of halftime, the Spirit came back with two quick goals from Sarah Inafuku. With her first goal, Inafuku fired from 40 yards out to place the ball perfectly over a leaping
Katelyn Young to deflect off the bottom of the crossbar for a goal in the 47
th minute.
Inafuku then took a through ball from Kiiaweau Aweau to touch and score, giving OUAZ a 3-0 lead and all of the game's momentum.
However, the Lady Tigers kept pushing with seven consecutive shots over the next 15 minutes, none of which could get CU on the board.
Nonetheless, in the 70
th minute,
Jordan Stallings flew in on a corner from
Rachel McWilliams to head the ball past the Spirit keeper. McWilliams was able to sneak the ball to the far side of the box before Stallings swooped in to give CU some life.
Just one minute later,
Molly Hall used her head to punch in a dish from
Shannon Ramey, putting the Lady Tigers in striking distance with 19 minutes left to play, down 3-2.
CU continued to put pressure on Ottawa, but the offense slowed, as they Lady Tigers were not able to find quality shots for the remainder of the match.
However, it was in the 86
th minute,
Shannon Ramey, drove the ball into the box and forced a foul, sending
Lakin Walls to take a penalty kick.
The senior was able to make the most of her opportunity for the 3-3 equalizer with less than five minutes left in regulation.
This score held for the remainder of the play, forcing overtime.
In OT, CU continued to utilize their momentum and kept applying pressure, with five shots in the first overtime period. Off of three corners from McWIlliams, the Lady Tigers had opportunities, but we unable to break the draw.
Forcing a second overtime, Campbellsville continued to look for their golden goal to head to the NCCAA Championship. Ottawa was able to slow the Lady Tiger offense in this period, holding Campbellsville to two shots, ending play with a 3-3 draw.
Nonetheless, as a winner had to be decided, this sent the Lady Tigers into PKs for the first time since 2013.
As Campbellsville won the coin toss and was shooting second, Chandler Schioppi began the shootout for OUAZ with a shot in the top corner, past Young.
Naia Landaluce looked to match it in CU's first attempt, but her shot was saved.
With Juliet Hufford and McWilliams missing conversions on the teams' second attempts, Kalleigh Gibadlo stepped up for OUAZ to give them a 2-0 shootout lead.
Andrea Brizuela, however, was able to counter with her own conversion.
This brought Logan Maszton up for the Spirit, as she too found the back of the net. Yet again, the Lady Tigers showed their never-say-day mentality, as Hall stepped up for a goal.
With CU trailing PKs 3-2 with one attempt left, the Spirit brought up Crystal Carroll for the potential game winner. Carroll was able to convert, sending the Lady Tigers home after a hard fought 110 minutes.
The 3-0 comeback created an instant classic for the Lady Tigers, but were unable to advance after the Spirit outshot them in PKs 4-2.
With this, the Lady Tigers close the book on their season with a 13-6-2 overall record that included NAIA Opening Round and NCCAA Semifinal appearances.
