Casey Paul

Women's Soccer

Fourth-seeded Omaha advances to title match via penalty kicks

Omaha will face South Dakota State in the championship

DENVER, Colo. – Fourth-seeded Omaha stunned top-seeded Denver to advance to the Summit League women's soccer championship match via a 3-2 advantage in penalty kicks Sunday night at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium. The teams played to a 2-2 draw through 90 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of extra time before the Mavericks secured the upset in the shootout.
 
After Omaha and Denver each made their first penalty shots and subsequently missed their second attempts, Pioneer forward Camryn MacMillan misfired on DU's third attempt to open the door for the Mavericks. Omaha forward Marissa Gohr capitalized on her attempt to give her squad a 2-1 advantage. Denver's Ella Frost tied it up 2-2 on the Pioneers' fourth attempt and Emilie Erland would put the Mavericks up 3-2 on their fifth shot.

That set the stage for Omaha goalkeeper Emma Konsmo, who sealed the victory with her diving stop of Sydney Sharp's attempt. Omaha advanced to its second straight tournament title appearance and fourth overall in thrilling fashion. Konmso subbed in during the penalty shootout, replacing starter Mia Reedtz Rehde Olesen, who made eight saves during regulation and the extra sessions.  

The Pioneers controlled play throughout those first 90 minutes, holding a 12-3 advantage on shots, including a 6-1 edge in the first half, but it was the Mavericks who struck first when Erland fed Alyssa Kellar to get the scoring started in the 13th minute.

Denver's Kaitlyn Glover knocked in the equalizer in the 27th minute with MacMillan and Lily O'Grady being credited with the assists.
 
Omaha quickly regained the lead in the opening minutes of the second half when Summit League Offensive Player of the Year Sophia Green fed Defensive Player of the Year Regan Zimmers, who came through with a running header to put the Mavericks ahead 2-1.

After a barrage of attempts in the closing minutes, Denver would finally tally the game-tying goal in the 90th minute. After Riley Baker served the ball into the box, MacMillan was able to head the ball in front of the goal mouth where an open Jadyn Goodrich finished things off to send the match into overtime.

In the extra time, DU held a 4-1 advantage in shots with all four of the Pioneers' efforts coming on goal but Reedtz Rehde Olesen was up to the challenge.  

The Mavericks will play at second-seeded South Dakota State in the title match with a date and time to be announced.

SHOOTOUT
Round 1: DU 1-1 UNO (DU Glover converted, UNO Green converted)
Round 2: DU 1-1 UNO (DU Crockett missed, UNO Bourgeois missed)
Round 3: DU 1-2 UNO (DU MacMillan missed, UNO Gohr converted)
Round 4: DU 2-3 UNO (DU Frost converted, UNO Erland converted)
Round 5: DU 2-3 UNO (DU Sharp missed)
 
Turning Point
  • Konsmo's second diving save of the penalty shootout set off a wild celebration as the Mavericks advanced to its second straight title game.
Inside the box score
  • Denver outshot the Mavericks 16-4 and took four corner kicks compared to one by Omaha. The Pioneers also held a 10-2 advantage in shots on goal.
  • DU's Liv Moritz and Vanessa Murphy were the only players on either team to put multiple shots on goal, posting two in the contest.
  • Reedtz made a season-high eight saves in the match.
  • This is the fifth straight Summit League Tournament that one of the matches was decided in a penalty shootout. 
News & Notes
  • This is the fourth straight season that Omaha earned a trip to the Summit League semifinals.
  • The Mavericks will play South Dakota State in the championships for the first time in league history.
  • The regular season finale saw SDSU and Omaha post a 1-1 draw on Oct. 24 in Brookings.
 
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