Women’s football will advance to the ASUN semi-finals after winning the FGCU in the PK series

FORT MYERS, Fla. – In the end, the draw for Bellarmine University’s women’s soccer team could be left entirely behind.

On Friday night in the semifinals of the ASUN championship, the Knights shot four straight bulls and a senior goalkeeper Elyssa Francis Florida Gulf Coast University knocked out two attempts as they won a penalty shootout after a 4-3 1-1 draw after two overtime periods at the FGCU Soccer Complex.

Bellarmine advances to the semifinals of the first conference tournament in Division I in a match that officially ends in a draw is unmistakable. The competition marked Bellarmine’s eighth – yes, eighth – draw of the season (4-6-8), five of which started the year.

But this time the Knights left the field completely satisfied after a new stalemate. They were the four seeds of the Western Division and won the title hopes of the FGCU (10-7-1), which was the best seed in the East.

Bellarmine will meet the eastern three-seed Kennesaw State at 1 p.m. (ET) on Sunday at the FGCU. Owls advanced with a 4-3 extra time from Central Arkansas.

The drama began long before the PK explosion. With less than two minutes left in regular time, Bellarmine was 1-0 when he was a fresh midfielder Lily Markey directed the ball towards the crowd near 6. In the middle of the robbery, a senior midfielder Lauren Mackey managed to push the ball forward and into the net to even out the competition.

After a couple of goalless extra time, the match progressed to PK. The FGCU went first and Francis immediately made a huge stop.

Bellarmine was on the switch throughout the shooting. Senior defender Elise Markley buried the opening attempt and a senior midfielder Sarah Buse, as a second student Sophie Bish and Mackey, who followed their chances as the Knights led to a 4-3 lead after four rounds.

Francis closed it in the fifth round when he knocked down Ashlee Brentlinger in the upper left corner of the company, triggering the Knights ’misleading celebration.

FGCU scored from the penalty spot. Malaya Melancon blocked Bellarmine’s clear attempt and drove the attack down and found the net at close range to a 1-0 lead. Mackey’s equalizer in the 89th minute was his first of the season.

FGCU finished the shots with a 21-8 lead, but kept only a 5-3 edge in the frame.

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