A&M-Corpus Christi Pushes Top-Seeded SFA to the Brink in Shootout Defeat

BEAUMONT, Texas – Two overtime periods weren't enough to decide a winner between the eighth-seeded Texas A&M-Corpus Christi soccer program and top-seeded Stephen F. Austin, but after a 1-1 tie, the Ladyjacks advanced 4-2 on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals of the Southland Conference Tournament.
 
Trailing 1-0, time looked to be running out on A&M-Corpus Christi (4-8-5) in the second half until freshman Natalie Gonzalez scored an electrifying goal in the 88th minute to give the team new life. Senior Celia Hilsabeck sent a long ball that was controlled by Gonzalez as she slipped past a defender and dribbled her way to the top of the six-yard box where rolling a goal into the lower left corner of the next.
Gonzalez became the eighth different Islander to score a goal on the year.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi had the better of the opportunities than SFA (10-5-3) in the overtime periods but just couldn't find the finishing touch. The Islanders out-shot the Ladyjacks 4-2 in the second overtime.
 
In penalty kicks, senior Abby Deakin and junior Reaghan Lang each scored for A&M-Corpus Christi, but SFA converted on four of its five attempts while the Islanders missed twice.
 
"I'm really proud of the ladies. We outplayed the conference champions and only allowed them to a penalty kick goal. It was heartbreaking to lose in a penalty shootout, but we have a bright feature," said head coach Craig Shaw. "Bring on August!"
 
A&M-Corpus Christi was credited with 58 percent of the total possession.
 
SFA's only goal in regulation came on a penalty kick. Although not a golden scoring opportunity, Katelyn Termini was tripped up just inside the penalty box to be awarded the penalty. Her PK just barely got under the hands of senior goalkeeper Kyleigh Hall on a low shot to the right in the eighth minute.
 
Prior to that, the Islanders nearly scored the first goal of the match on a deep shot from junior Samantha Palomino, but it rattled the crossbar.
Hall made 11 saves in net. Junior Siri O'Donnell and freshman Emma Herrera played all 110 minutes on the back line. Freshmen Olivia Alvarez and Maggie Murray fired three shots apiece.
 
SFA got past A&M-Corpus Christi for the first time in the last four meetings dating back to 2018. The Islanders won the regular season match 2-1 this year.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi made just its fourth-ever tournament appearance since beginning the program in 2013. It was the first-time it had reached the tournament in back-to-back seasons.
 
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