LONG BEACH, Calif. --- UC Irvine extended its season to the Big West Tournament Final after mastering a penalty kick shootout, 4-2, to break the 1-1 tie with Cal State Fullerton Thursday night in the Big West Tournament semifinal at George Allen Field.
Grayson Galbraith stepped up as the fifth and final shooter, and clinched it with a dart in the back of the net to send UCI (13-6-2, 5-2-1) through to Sunday's final.
After 110 minutes covering regulation and two overtime periods, the 'Eaters and Titans (8-10-1, 5-3-0) were still knotted at 1-1 and needed a penalty kick shootout to break the tie.
The 'Eaters had been unsuccessful in two PK shootouts in the program's career, most notably a 3-0 drubbing in 2012 to the same Titans, also in the Big West semis. The story unfolded a little bit differently this time around beginning with a solid strike from Sammie James to start things off.
After CSF converted their shot, the 'Eaters took a step back as Kelsey Texeira missed the goal. Maddie Newsom's imposing figure in the goal forced a high shot from Devin Spolsdoff, and Andrea Mensen and Brittany Nguyen picked their teammate up to keep the round going.
Maribell Morales would miss on the Titans' fourth attempt giving way to Galbraith to sew the match up.
"I've prepared all my life for that, it's just another PK. Earlier in the week, we addressed it, and it was, regardless of what happens, the sun will rise tomorrow and that took away my nerves. Place it and let's go."
Her dagger punctuated what was already a tenuous match between the 'Eaters, making their first tournament appearance since 2013, and the Titans, who were looking to defend their title for a third straight time.
CSF got things rolling with the opening goal in the 29th minute. A high, arcing feed toward goal from Jessica Simonian had Newsom's name written all over it, but she overshot her approach and the ball slipped through her gloves and landed in the box. Sarah Fajnor would pounce on it and punch the ball home for a 1-0 Titan lead.
UCI turned on the jets on the offensive end, and was able to respond before the halftime whistle. Reema Bzeih's corner kick hit Kelsey Texeira in the middle of the box, and her header back across the goal slid inside the left post to square the match back up at 1-1 in the 39th minute.
The second half was uptempo, but neither squad really had any golden opportunities to go ahead. Defenses bent, but did not break. Noel Baham, who was deemed "unguardable" by her coach from her performance in the match, made a stellar move to slide between defenders late in the match, and drove a shot that flew inches over the far post where the squads would enter overtime for the second time in five days.
Each squad dominated their own overtime period. UCI had all the possession and chances in the first overtime period from a Carley Brown dash to open things up to Shelby Lee's breakaway chance in the 99th minute that Jennifer Stuart astutely challenged and turned away sending the match to a second overtime period.
The Titans owned the second period putting up four shots, much like UCI in the first period, and added four of their seven corner kicks. UCI's backline packed in around the goal allowing nothing to get by and forcing the match to penalty kicks.
Maddie Newsom was tested throughout, yet only totaled three saves in the match. UCI outshot CSF 19-14 and fired nine on target, eight of which were stopped by Stuart.
Texeira's goal was her fourth of the season and her career, and the first that didn't go down as a game-winner, however it may be considered a season-saver helping the 'Eaters play on into OT and the PK shootout.
'That's one of the most memorable games that I've been a part of as well as one of the most memorable teams to be able to coach," praised a jubilant head coach Scott Juniper, "but we're also very, very aware that we've got a lot of work to do."
That work extends into Sunday as the Big West Final will pit the two rivals, UC Irvine and Long Beach State, against each other. It's the fifth finals appearance for the 'Eaters, and the squads have met in its previous two Big West Finals, both at Anteater Stadium, and both going in LBSU's favor in 1-0 victories in 2010 and 2011.
This edition will be played in LBSU's backyard, a place where the schools played to a scoreless draw to open Big West play last month.
All eyes will be on it with both teams seemingly needing to win to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The match will get the full treatment being shown on FOX Sports Prime Ticket with a 1:00 p.m. start.
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