HOOVER, Alabama – It took 110 minutes of scoreless play and a shootout but the Lee women's soccer team advanced to the championship round of the Gulf South Conference Spring Playoff Series with a 5-3 victory in the shootout over Delta State.  

The Lady Flames will wait for the winner of Sunday's other semifinal match between West Alabama and Mississippi College. The championship game will be played at the John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Alabama on Saturday, April 3 at 2 p.m. EDT. 

Playing conditions were tough on both sides at the MET Turf Complex. "The wind affected both squads," said Coach Chris Hennessey after his team remains undefeated during the spring season. "Give Delta State credit, they played us tough, but now we can move on and seek the championship." 

Before entering the shootout, the Lady Flames out-shot the Lady Statesmen 12-5 but Lee only had two shots on goal, one by Ruth Edrington just under the three-minute mark in the first half. Kelsey Yoder missed a penalty kick at 13:20 in the first half and Riley Henry gave the Lady Flames an opportunity to win at the 87:14 mark. 

At the same time the Lady Statesmen had three shots on goal, but Lee's keeper Jacqueline Burns turned away all three attempts. "Our defense did the job again," pointed out Hennessey. "We knew it would be a battle going into the contest and I'm proud of the way our girls stood tall against a good Delta State team." 

In the shootout, Kate Dirkse quickly knocked in Lee's first attempt. Avery Engels put the Lady Flames up 2-1. Yoder and Ali Schroeder also kept Lee on top before Sage Sammeli sealed the victory by blasting her kick into the back of the net. Burns was credited with three key saves in the shootout.