SAN ANTONIO, Texas – A shootout was the deciding factor in the second SCAC semifinal match between seconded-seeded Texas Lutheran and third-seeded Southwestern where the Bulldogs survived in penalty kicks to advance to their fourth title match in program history. Official Championships Website | Tournament Stats | Interview w/ Texas Lutheran Head Coach Kerwin Johnson and Sophomore Madison Johnson | Photos
Following a 2-2 tie at the end of regulation and a scoreless 20 extra minutes of overtime, TLU advanced into Sunday’s final, edging out Southwestern 3-2 in penalty kicks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead going into halftime after sophomore Alyssa Simien scored her team-leading 16th goal of the season off an assist from Ana Parra in the 41st minute.
- TLU doubled its lead less than 15 minutes out of the break when Gabriela Varela connected on a penalty kick in the 58th minute following a Southwestern handball.
- Southwestern however cut the lead in half just over six minutes later when Laren Gradt scored directly off a corner kick to make it 2-1 with just under a half an hour remaining in the match.
- Texas Lutheran had a chance to regain its two-goal cushion when the Bulldogs were awarded a second penalty kick in the 85th minute but Kelly Wolfe’s attempt clanged off the crossbar give the Pirates a lifeline.
- In the 89th minute Gradt scored her second goal of the night, once again directly off a corner kick. She bent the ball in with her right foot as she did previously in the match to tie the game late in dramatic fashion and send the contest into overtime.
- Texas Lutheran outshot Southwestern 2-1 in the overtime periods but neither team could find a goal forcing a deciding penalty kick shootout.
- Southwestern missed on its opening attempt, while Samantha Martinez, Alyssa Simien and Gabriela Varela connected on the Bulldogs first three attempts.
- Trailing by one in the shootout, Ella Ruehr’s attempt in the fourth round for Southwestern was saved by a diving Madison Johnson to set TLU up for a chance to advance with a made fourth round attempt. However, a miss left hope for the Pirates but Southwestern’s fifth attempt skipped off the top of the crossbar sending the Bulldogs into Sunday’s final.
TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Alyssa Simien (MF): 1 goal, 3 shots, 2 shots on goal
- Gabriela Varela (MF): 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 shot on goal
- Ana Parra (MF): 1 assist
- Elaina Barrientes (F): 2 shots, 2 shots on goal
- Madison Johnson (GK): 110 minutes played, 2 goals allowed, 8 saves
SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Laren Gradt (F): 2 goals, 8 shots, 5 shots on goal
- Abby Castelli (MF): 2 shots, 2 shots on goal
- Alexis Guajardo (F): 3 shots, 1 shot on goal
- Johnna Campbell (GK): 110 minutes played, 2 goals against, 3 saves
NOTABLES
- Tonight’s fixture was the seventh match in SCAC Tournament history decided via penalty kicks and the first since Southwestern defeated Trinity, 5-4, in PKs in the 2019 championship game.
- It was the second time TLU and Southwestern have gone to PKs. The Pirates advanced to the 2013 final after defeating the Bulldogs 5-4 in PKs in the semifinal.
- This marked the third time Texas Lutheran has been to a penalty kick shootout in the SCAC Tournament, falling in its previous two attempts. Most recently in the 2018 quarterfinals against Dallas and the contest with Southwestern in 2013.
- Southwestern in now 3-2 all-time in the SCAC Tournament when the game has been decided on penalty kicks.
- With the win, Texas Lutheran will play in its fourth SCAC final in program history. The Bulldogs first three trips came in 2014, 2015 and 2017.
- Southwestern (9-5-6) has now appeared in the last five SCAC semifinals, the second longest active streak in the league.
UP NEXT
By advancing past Southwestern, Texas Lutheran (11-7-2) will face top-seeded Trinity in Sunday’s championship match. It will be the fourth time these two programs have met in the final with Trinity winning the previous three matchups. TLU and Trinity played just five days ago to close out the regular season with the Tigers earning a 4-0 victory.
