FARMVILLE, Va. – The Presbyterian College women's soccer team brought all the drama and came out on top in a penalty kick shootout to eliminate fourth-seed Longwood in the first round of the Big South Championship.
Tied at 0-0 for the second time in two weeks against the Lancers – thanks largely to the excellency of dueling All-Conference keepers Kelly Hall and Sara Curtis – the Blue Hose prevailed in PK's by a margin of 4-2.
In a true storybook ending, it was Hall that delivered the final blow to secure the victory, Presbyterian's first-ever Division I postseason win.
PC had been unable to snare an outright win in any of their previous seven trips to Longwood, including a nil-nil draw just 14 days ago.
That trend was finally broken on Saturday, with the Blue Hose claiming the W in their third-ever Big South Tournament appearance.
The Scotsmen will now go head-to-head with the 2024 conference regular season champions in the league semifinals, set for a rematch against USC Upstate next Thursday at a neutral venue (Matthews, North Carolina).
COACH MATT SMITH
"I'm incredibly proud of our girls for the way they weathered the storm against a very good Longwood team, and their refusal to lose was contagious all-around. The mantra of the tournament is to survive and advance, and they embodied that tonight."
"Leading up to this game, our most important thought was: how can we spend another week together and keep this train rolling? We found a way to answer that question. This team loves playing with each other, and I certainly enjoy getting to coach them to a program-first."
Due to the postseason nature of Saturday's encounter, a tie at the end of regulation meant that overtime (and later, double overtime) was mandatory. No player was able to break the scoreless tally in a theme that was nearly identical to the regular season meeting with the Lancers.
In 200 total minutes of action between the Blue Hose and Longwood (covering both matches), the overall score stayed 0-0. Thus, the solution to the Semifinal ticket was a penalty kick shootout.
As always, Hall was exquisite in defending the PC goal while living up to her all-league title, saving 10 shots while turning in her 11th career shutout.
This was the fifth time in 2024 that head coach Matt Smith's team blanked the opponent and the third time it has happened versus a league foe.
Presbyterian's vaunted defense held steady despite getting out-shot 18-8 by the higher seed, withstanding two corner kicks in the final three minutes of regulation that maintained the draw.
Hall threw out the life jacket for coach Smith's crew just 16 seconds into the first overtime period, denying what would have been the game-winner from the home side.
She would again come up huge with the pressure mounting, logging another save with four seconds left in OT number one.
Sarah Dieffenderfer forced Longwood to provide their own game-saving play in the second overtime, launching a shot in the 107th minute that was on-target.
Four out of five penalty kicks from the Blue Hose passed by Curtis and drilled the back of the net, starting with Dieffenderfer who got her squad off to a 1-0 jump.
Hall vetoed the Lancers' attempt to tie up the PK score at 1-1, providing the avenue for freshman Harlan Lyons to convert Presby's second penalty try.
Longwood again was left scratching their heads as Hall blockaded another, although PC's third penalty kick was also a misfire that kept the margin at 2-0.
The Lancers' desperation finally allowed them to make their next kick, although coach Smith's gang would go 2-for-2 from then on to move to the next phase of the bracket.
Lyla Chadd submitted the third hit for the Blue Hose, which positioned Hall to steer in another stop and then deliver the dagger from her own feet.
PC will rest for the next four days before entering the round of four on Thursday.
Already annihilating their preseason projection of 7th place, the Blue Hose will head to the Big South Semifinals for the first time ever and battle the team that captured their inaugural conference crown: USC Upstate.
The Spartans earned a first-round BYE after coming in 1st place, designing a very intriguing rematch between two schools located just 30 minutes apart.
PC played Upstate in the Big South opener way back on September 25, ending a busy evening at Martin Stadium with a 2-2 tie.
Sydney Lassiter notched her first collegiate goal in that meeting, although the Spartans were able to surge in front just before halftime. A 49th-minute strike by rookie Allie Williams at 48:44 is what led to the tied decision.