FLORENCE, Ala. - In what will certainly go down in history as one of the most exciting victories in the rich history of Lee women's soccer, the Lady Flames advanced to the championship round of the Gulf South Conference Tournament with a 5-4 decision over the University of West Florida. The Lady Flames became the first Lee team to advance in GSC championship competition. Lee will face top-seeded North Alabama, a 1-0 winner over West Alabama, for the GSC title on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Regulation play and two overtimes ended in a 3-3 deadlock and according to soccer rules that's the way it will be listed in the record books. The Lady Flames will face the winner of host North Alabama and West Alabama in the championship game on Sunday at 2 p.m. (EST).
The battle between the No. 2 seeded Lady Flames and No. 3 Argos was back and forth the entire evening. "It was not good for my health but it was a high level of soccer and one of the best college games I've ever been around," said a still excited first-year coach Chris Hennessey. "I'm very, very proud of these girls. They never gave up and battled their hearts out for the entire 90 minutes, two overtimes and the penalty kicks."
The Lady Flames took a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute on a goal by Kinsey Cichowitz. It was her fifth goal of the season. McKenzie Bricker, who turned in an outstanding performance, registered her first of three assists on the evening. She now has a team-leading 11 assists.
West Florida struck right back and tied the contest at one in the 31st minute. Alissa Festagailo knocked in the goal. Not to be denied, Lee came right back and grabbed the lead again in the 38th minute as freshman Lauren Peters tallied her seventh goal of the season. Again it was Bricker who dished off the assist and helped give the Lady Flames a 2-1 advantage.
Back bounced the Argos to tie the contest at two with some 90 seconds remaining in the first half. Bri Young got the goal.
The amazing script continued in the second half as Summer Lanter posted her 10th goal of the season on an assist from the ever-present Bricker. The score came in the 57th minute and the Lady Flames were on top again 3-2. West Florida almost broke the hearts of the Lady Flames when Georgia Bailey scored her first goal of the season with only 46 seconds remaining to send the hotly-contested affair into the first of two overtimes.
Neither team was able to register a score in the two overtime periods but the penalty kicks turned out to be something to behold. Peters tallied the first PK, followed by Laura Thacker and Megan Newman. After goalkeeper Haley Gribler came up with her third block in the penalty kicks, Suzanne Arant stepped up and nailed a winner that turned into a giant celebration by the Lady Flames.
Lee had 14 shots and placed four between the bars. West Florida took 12 shots and had eight on target. Erin Olson played the first half in goal and was credited with three saves. Gribler came on for the second half, overtimes and penalty kicks. She had two saves.
