RELEASE COURTESY OF UWF SPORTS INFORMATION
PENSACOLA, Fla. – In round two of the heavyweight battle between No. 7 West Florida and North Alabama in the Gulf South Conference Championship match at Brosnaham Park Sunday, the Argos came out on top once again but only after surviving two overtime periods and penalty kicks. After 110 minutes of play the score was tied 2-2, and UWF defeated the Lions 5-4 in penalty kicks to claim the team’s seventh GSC crown and third in a row.
The Argos clinched the title in the ninth round of penalties, as freshman Alexis Pugh stepped up and drove the ball inside the left post to send the Argonauts home with the trophy and an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
Junior Jordan Stone scored the first goal of the match in the 38th minute after her second attempt at a free kick. During her first try, UNA’s Julia Osmond was given a yellow card on the attempt, giving the defender a second try. Stone took advantage, directing the ball through a crowd of players and into the net for her fifth of the season.
The early minutes of the second half were dominated by West Florida, as the Argos attempted several shots on goal resulting in numerous sprawling saves by UNA’s Alex McLay. UNA turned it around when Jo Chubb scored in the 68th minute, equalizing after receiving a pass from Chloe Roberts and powering an open shot past the diving Ali Ryan.
West Florida senior Shakira Duncan took matters into her own hands in the 78th minute, dribbling by a defender down the left sideline to find freshman Alexis Garrand open in the box, giving the Argos a 2-1 lead.
With the time running out on North Alabama, Roberts kept the Lions alive with a gorgeous goal with 33 seconds left in regulation. After falling to the ground, Roberts received a pass, spun around several players in the box and blasted a goal past Ryan to tie the score at 2-2.
It was only the fourth time in GSC Tournament history a match went to overtime and the first since 2004. Jennifer Osmond nearly ended the contest in the first overtime but missed an open header over the crossbar, leading to a second overtime period and eventually the first-ever penalty kick shootout in a GSC Tournament match.
2010 GSC Women's Soccer All-Tournament Team
Most Outstanding Player
Shakira Duncan, West Florida
Alexis Gerrand, West Florida
Tina Murray, West Florida
Jodi-Ann Robinson, West Florida
Noha Saleh, West Florida
Jo Chubb, North Alabama
Alex McLay, North Alabama
Julia Osmond, North Alabama
Chloe Roberts, North Alabama
Libby Hake, Christian Brothers
Hayley Withrow, Harding
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TOURNAMENT RESULTS
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Friday, November 5
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Semifinals
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(2) North Alabama 2, (3) Christian Brothers 0
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(1) West Florida 5, (4) Harding 0
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Sunday, November 7
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Finals
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(1) West Florida 2, (2) NorthAlabama 2 (5-4)
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