Box Score BROOKINGS, S.D. – North Dakota State advanced to the title game at the Summit League Women's Soccer Championship for the first time ever Friday night; winning a penalty shootout against South Dakota State, 4-3, after two overtime periods could not break a 1-1 deadlock.
The Bison (11-5-5, 6-2-1 Summit) will play Western Illinois at noon on Sunday for the league title and an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. The Leathernecks defeated top-seeded Oakland in a penalty shootout in the day's first semifinal. South Dakota State finishes the season 11-3-5 overall and 6-2-1 in Summit League play.
Junior Abbey Stratton tallied the game-clinching penalty kick after the penalties were tied at three each. Junior goalie Kalani Bertsch also came up big in the shootout, making a clutch save to help keep the Bison ahead.
After withstanding five early shots from South Dakota State, Kaitlin Justice gave the Jacks the lead in the 22nd minute after a misplayed ball in the box by the Bison.
NDSU applied some pressure of its own to the Jacks towards the end of the half with Katie Tallas, Holly Christian and Sheri Fitzsimmons all notching shots. Just before halftime, Bertsch came rushing out to smother an attempted Jackrabbit through ball.
After a yellow card against South Dakota State in the 54th minute, senior Marissa Wolfgram lined up the free kick just outside the box. Junior Michelle Gaffaney redirected Wolfgram's low kick into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. It was Gaffaney's fourth goal of the year.
Bertsch notched three more saves in regulation to keep the game level. Stratton had a long range attempt at goal off a free kick and senior Candice D'Arcangeli had a late chance at net, but both shots were saved by Elisa Stamatakis.
In the first overtime period, neither team created any chances. In the second overtime, the Bison had a corner kick in the 107th minute, but nothing came of it.
South Dakota State went first in the shootout. Christa Nyblom's shot was deflected by Bertsch, but she could not keep it out of the net. Wolfgram then stepped up and buried her spot kick in the lower left corner to tie it at 1-1.
Bertsch then made a diving save on Kelsey Ferguson's penalty to give the Bison the advantage. Gaffaney converted her attempt to give the Bison a 2-1 edge.
Danielle Neuhalfen's penalty shot ricocheted off the post, but junior Danielle Boldenow's shot was saved by a diving Stamatakis as the Bison still held a 2-1 advantage.
JoLynn Janckila sent her shot into the upper left corner to tie things up, but senior Quin Ryan made no mistake on her attempt, firing the ball into the lower left corner to maintain the Bison lead. Tory Schlitgen made her spot kick as Stratton stepped up with a chance to win it for the Bison.
Stratton powered the ball into the lower left corner, sending the Bison to their first Summit League title game as she was mobbed by her celebrating teammates.
