BUENA VISTA, VA. — Hosting the first round of the USA South Conference Tournament, the Southern Virginia University Women's Soccer team took on Brevard Tuesday night in Knight Stadium. With penalty kicks needed, Alyssa Trueman put the team on her back, recording her biggest save of her career, pushing the team past Brevard and advancing to the conference Semifinals.
How It Happened:
In the first 45, Southern Virginia got the looked they needed, with Makinna Winterton and Matia Murray recording shots on goal within the first 25 minutes, but Brevard's Nicole Arroyo stood tall with two saves.
In the 39
th minute, Madison Sollis fired a shot towards the bottom left corner of the net, but again Nicole Arroyo was there to keep the game scoreless.
At the end of the first, the Knights' defense successfully did their jobs, not allowing the Tornados to get a shot off. Southern Virginia outshot Brevard 8-0 but headed into the locker room with the 0-0 tie.
After the break, the Knights did not struggle to get off shots, but could not get a ball to find the back of the net. Six minutes in, Southern Virginia got off four shots, but were unable to put them on cage. The Knights ended the second 45 with nine total shots, with two on target, but Arroyo shined for her team, sending the game into overtime.
In both overtimes, Southern Virginia's offense tallied four shots while the defense completed their best efforts of the season, not allowing one shot to be recorded by the opposition, sending the match into penalty kicks.
Lindsay Clausen and Gabriella Ray were first up for the team to take their kicks, with both sinking their shots, keeping it tied 2-2. Matia Murray was up next, sneaking it past Arroyo off the initial contact with the ball. After Makinna Winterton nailed her shot, Alyssa Trueman clutched up, diving to her right, making the biggest save of her life and awaited the embrace of her teammates coming to celebrate the team's victory.
Up Next:
Southern Virginia awaits Mary Baldwin in the conference semifinals played in Knight Stadium Thursday, November 3.Time of the match is to be determined. For more updates and details on the women's soccer team, be sure to follow @knight_wsoc on Instagram and @knightwsoccer on Twitter and visit knightathletics.com for live stats and streaming options.
