FLORENCE, Ala. – Isabella Garcia-Salas pushed the University of West Florida women's soccer team to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon, with the game-winning goal in a 3-2, double overtime victory over North Alabama in the tournament's opening round. The goal was the fifth of the season for the sophomore, her team-high third game-winner and her second goal in the last three matches.
 
The Argonauts will now face 1-seed Mississippi College on Sunday in the Second Round. The win gave UWF its second win over North Alabama this year, after defeating the Lions 5-1 at home on October 15 – a match where Garcia-Salas added an assist on the final goal of the contest.
 
Her goal followed a free kick from Shantell Thompson in the 107th minute of action. Thompson's kick one-hopped North Alabama keeper Shelby Thornton, who made five saves on the day including an incredible diving effort on a shot from Thompson as time expired in the second half. This time, however, Thornton had trouble hanging on to the hop, and Garcia-Salas was in perfect position to clean up the effort and find the lower left corner of the net to advance UWF farther into the NCAA Tournament.
 
The goal could be seen as a bit of redemption for Garcia-Salas, who took a penalty kick in the second half with the score at 2-2 in the 62nd minute that was saved by a diving Thornton.
 
Early on, momentum seemed heavily in favor of North Alabama. The Lions had a 2-0 lead after 38 minutes of play, with Kylie Huey scoring her 16th and 17th goals of the season in the first half. UNA even outshot the Argonauts in those first 45 minutes, 6-4.
 
It was all UWF in the second half, as Grace Busby scored off a pass from Thompson just a minute-and-a-half into the half and Jessica Quixley evened the score with a goal in the 54th minute. The goal was Quixley's eighth of the year, tying her with Leonie Kreil and Deneisha Blackwood for the team high, and Thompson now leads the Gulf South Conference with 10 assists on the season.
 
After outshooting UNA 9-4 in the second half, West Florida finished the match with a 16-12 shot advantage, marking the 20th time in 21 contests this season.
 
UWF will face No. 1 seed Mississippi College in Florence, Alabama, on Sunday at 1 pm.