NORMAL, Ill. – After finishing regulation in a 1-1 draw and playing through two overtime periods, No. 4 Illinois State got the best of fifth-seeded UNI, converting the first three penalty kicks, 3-0, to advance to the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Women's Soccer Championships on Sunday night. ISU will now play top-seeded Loyola Chicago on Wednesday, April 14 at 4 p.m. CT at Loyola Soccer Park in Chicago, Ill.
The Redbirds outshot the Panthers, 23-8, and 13-1 in shots on goal on the night, yet UNI's one shot on frame was all they needed to take an early, 1-0 lead in the 20th minute off a goal by senior forward Johnnie Hill.
ISU responded in the second half when an Abby Basler corner kick created the opportunity for an UNI own goal that knotted the score at 1-1.
Neither side could convert the final golden goal, as the match finished in a 1-1 draw after 110 minutes.
Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Priya Gillan was a brick wall between the sticks in the ensuing tiebreaker shootout, stopping two penalty kicks (UNI's initial kick was not on frame) to seal the deal and help the 'Birds advance to the semis. Basler, junior Logan Ziegler and sophomore Micheala Kirschten all put penalty kicks away for ISU.
Basler, Gillan and senior centerback Alissa Ramsden were the only Redbirds to go the full 110 minutes on the pitch. Senior Sarah LaFayette and Basler both took a team-high six shots, with LaFayette putting all six on target.
UNI goalkeeper Caitlin Richards made 13 saves in goal to keep the Panthers in the game.
UP NEXT: ISU takes on No. 1 Loyola Chicago in the semifinals on Wednesday, April 14 at 4 p.m. CT in Chicago.
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