WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – Campbellsville University women's soccer captured the Mid-South Conference Tournament Championship in dramatic fashion Tuesday, defeating the #10 University of the Cumberlands Patriots 2-1 in overtime.
Fiona Jolly played the hero, scoring the golden goal at 92:14 to clinch the title for the Tigers.
- Fiona Jolly netted the golden goal just 2:14 into the overtime period, assisted by Wilma Gidlof and Bethin Boyle.
- Goalkeeper Milly Shakespeare was stellar in the net, recording six crucial saves as the Tigers were outshot 18-5 by the Patriots.
- Bethin Boyle scored the Tigers' opening goal unassisted in the eighth minute and later assisted on the game-winner.
- The Tiger defense withstood an overwhelming Cumberlands attack that earned 12 corner kicks to Campbellsville's zero.
- With the victory, Campbellsville claims its first MSC Tournament title since 2022 and secures an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament.
The Tigers struck first, capitalizing on an early opportunity despite the Patriots' heavy pressure. At 7:49, a shot by Campbellsville's
Laura Munoz struck the crossbar.
Bethin Boyle corralled the ball in the ensuing scramble and fired it home for an unassisted goal, her fifth of the season, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
Cumberlands (13-5-3) controlled the pace for the remainder of the half, outshooting the Tigers 9-1 in the period. Goalkeeper
Milly Shakespeare was tested three times, making saves on shots from Alba Ramirez and two from Carola Fontan to preserve the 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
The second half mirrored the first, with the Patriots maintaining a relentless offensive assault. Cumberlands registered another nine shots in the period and earned seven corner kicks. Shakespeare was forced to make three more saves, including a critical stop on Fontan at the 87:23 mark.
Immediately following that save, however, a handball was called inside the box, resulting in a penalty kick for the Patriots. Fontan stepped to the spot and converted the PK, tying the match 1-1 with just 2:37 left in regulation.
The late equalizer sent the championship match into sudden-death overtime.
The Tigers wasted no time ending the drama. Just 2:14 into the extra period, Boyle and
Wilma Gidlof combined to set up Jolly, who buried her sixth goal of the season to seal the 2-1 victory and the championship.
The final statistics highlighted the Tigers' defensive resilience. Cumberlands finished with a significant advantage in total shots (18-5) and corner kicks (12-0). Shakespeare (11-8) earned the win with six saves, while Cumberlands' keeper Morgan White (13-4-3) took the loss, recording two saves.
The win is Campbellsville's first MSC Tournament crown since 2022 and grants them an automatic berth in the NAIA Women's Soccer National Tournament.
Campbellsville will now await the announcement of its seed for the NAIA Women's Soccer National Tournament. They are set to participate in the tournament's First Round, which will be held at campus sites from November 20-22.
