Watch the penalty kicks

BEAUMONT, Texas – The HBU women's soccer team is advancing to their first Southland Conference championship match after freshman Ellee Hall scored the equalizer with four minutes left in regulation and senior Patty Walrath made a huge save in penalty kicks, as third-seed HBU officially tied second-seed Sam Houston State, 1-1, but won 4-2 in PKs Friday night at LU Soccer Complex.

"I am extremely proud of the way the girls played," said HBU head coach Misty Jones. "They have showed heart and passion all through the season. We play a tough out of conference schedule to prepare us for moments like this. We practiced penalties in the rain before loading the bus and leaving for the tournament. They were prepared and composed. We worked hard to earn the win tonight."

Natalie Hager led HBU (9-6-5) with five shots and three shots on goal, while Lindsay Matlock and Allison Abendschein each had four shots. Walrath made seven saves.

Ashley Alonzo led SHSU (9-8-2) with five shots, while she, Shelby McDaniel, and Katie Ferrara all had two shots on goal. Kylie Hambleton had 10 saves, with one team save.

Alonzo gave the Bearkats a 1-0 lead in the 18^th minute as she won the battle with a Huskies' defender with a bouncing ball in the box and fired a shot far-side that beat Walrath.

SHSU outshot the Huskies, 8-5, in the first half and 4-2 in shots on goal. HBU had the only corner kick of the opening half.

HBU controlled play in the second half, as shots were 15-5 in favor of the Huskies. But the Huskies could not solve Hambleton until late. Hambleton had some help, as Abendschein's shot in the 52^nd minute was stopped by a Bearkat defender, keeping the match at 1-0 in favor of SHSU.

Following a SHSU foul in the 86^th minute, Matlock took the free kick and Hall headed in the ball past Hambleton to tie the match at 1-1.

HBU had a corner kick attempt late in the second overtime, but Matlock's shot was stopped by Hambleton, as the teams went into penalty kicks.

Connor Ryder shot first and scored to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead. Mariah Titus went up for the Bearkats and hit the cross bar, giving the Huskies a huge advantage early.

The next four shooters – two for each team – made their respective shots to make the score 3-2 in favor of HBU. Hager missed for the Huskies, leaving the door wide open for SHSU to tie the PKs. But Walrath made perhaps the biggest save of her career as she stopped Madison Bible to keep the score 3-2. Kristi O'Brien was next and scored, putting the match away, as HBU advanced to the championship round, 4-2 in penalty kicks.


When asked when knowing penalty kicks determined if your season continued or not, Walrath said, "The entire season, we've been working on having to keep mentally tough. As a senior, I wanted to end it right and it wasn't about to be tonight."

HBU will play top-seed Stephen F. Austin, who defeated fifth-seed Nicholls, 5-0, Friday evening in the other semifinal. Kickoff is set for a 1 pm start Sunday and will be streamed live on ESPN3.