JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The University of West Florida women's soccer pulled off a thrilling comeback against Lee University to win the South Region championship for the second year straight. UWF now moves on to the NCAA Quarterfinal, where the team will face Southeast Region host Carson-Newman on Sunday.
The title is UWF's fourth in the last six years, with the Argonauts bringing home the South Region Championship in 2012, 2013, 2016 and now 2017. West Florida is also now a perfect 6-0 in South Region title matches in its history.
Lee came out strong in the first half, as Summer Lanter opened up the scoring in the 11th minute putting Lee up 1-0. Lee continued to press in the first half, but Katelyn Burkhart and company held strong. Lee University tallied 15 shots in the first half, more than double the Argonauts' 6.
Katelyn Burkhart registered six saves in the first half to keep the Argonauts in the game, while Lee goalkeeper Haley Gribler went mostly untested in the first half.
The South Region final was a tale of two halves. UWF came out strong to tally a total of 13 shots to Lee's 5 in the final 45 minutes of regulation. Savanna Soares' shot was saved by Haley Gribler in the 48th minute. Kaljit Atwal was a constant pressure on the backline of Lee with four shots. Haley Gribler made seven saves for Lee, making spectacular efforts against Savanna Soares and Atwal, and Shantell Thompson's corner kick in the 78th minute was flicked on by Atwal with a clever backheel only to be saved again.
With just six minutes remain in the second half, Deneisha Blackwood went down in the box and UWF was awarded a penalty kick. Shantell Thompson stepped up and coolly placed the ball into a corner away from Gribler.
Overtime was even between the two teams as both battled to create opportunities. Both defenses proved strong with neither team able to get a shot on goal.
Senior Katelyn Burkhart emerged the hero with two penalty saves. Shantell Thompson, Robyn Herman, and Grace Busby converted their penalties to send UWF into the Quarterfinal match.
UWF will face Carson-Newman at 2 pm ET on Sunday in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
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