FOLEY, Ala. – Little Rock soccer moved onto the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament after a thrilling victory over Arkansas State in penalty kicks on Wednesday morning.
The Trojans (9-8-3) began the game with strong winds at their back, trying to set the tempo early and the physicality high over the Red Wolves (9-6-2). They utilized their opportunities from the corner kicks as they got four in the first half compared to Arkansas State's zero. One chance nearly broke open the game after
Arola Aparicio Gili whipped in the ball and found a Little Rock body on the back post. The shot went towards the left side netting and forced the Red Wolves' goaltender to make a diving save.
The half ended in a standstill with neither team finding the net and both teams getting four shots towards goal.
Jaclyn Purvine led the Trojans with three and Bergrós Ásgeirsdóttir getting the other. The Trojans also proved they wanted to be physical as well as they were called for fouls nine times to the Red Wolves' zero.
In the second half, the Trojans had the disadvantage with the wind in their face. Arkansas State opened up the scoring first in the game with a corner kick in the 55
th minute that found the head of Dana O'Boye to put the Red Wolves up 1-0. From there, the Trojans put on the gas.
Chances began to build up for the Trojans, and they finally broke through with a goal in the 70
th minute. Defender
Liesa Seifert fired a long cross into the box from near midfield. Awaiting there was Aparicio where she received the ball and slotted it away in the bottom right corner to even the game up at 1-1.
With the momentum shifted to its side, Little Rock continued to press the issue hard towards Arkansas State's net.
Sairra Tucker found multiple opportunities on net including a one-on-one with the Red Wolves' goaltender Kelsey Ponder. Tucker took the shot, and Ponder made an incredible stop to keep the game tied. More Little Rock chances towards the net kept the pressure on Arkansas State, but its defense and goaltending held strong to send the game into sudden-death overtime.
The end of regulation stats was heavily favoring the Trojans as they out shot the Red Wolves 10-3 in the second half and 14-7 in the game. Little Rock's physicality did not let up either as it was whistled for 17 fouls total in the game to Arkansas State's four.
Little Rock came out of the gates of overtime with the urgency over Arkansas State. Purvine got the first shot towards net, firing the ball just over the cross bar. Tucker then shortly after received another through ball for an open shot and one-time shot it, but it was saved again by Arkansas State's Ponder.
After no scores in the first overtime, the Trojans had a massive scare to begin the second as the Red Wolves got a header off a free kick that squeaked barely wide right and kept the game alive. The Trojans nearly ended the game with seconds remaining on the clock after a deep shot beat the outstretched fingers of Ponder but ricocheted off the crossbar.
In the penalty shootout, it became the
Megan Swanson show after she held Arkansas State to just one goal out of four attempts and set up
Sairra Tucker with an attempt to win the game. Tucker slid it through with ease and the cheers came as Little Rock advanced to the semifinals.
The semifinal matchup will take place at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex on Friday at 4 p.m. Little Rock will take on the winner of the game between South Alabama and Appalachian State.
The game will be streamed live on ESPN3 with live stats found on the Sun Belt Women's Soccer Championship's website.
