Columbus State Falls to Tampa on Penalty Kicks in NCAA National Quarterfinals

Columbus, GA - The University of Tampa got a late goal in the second half to tie the game and then went on to win in a penalty kick shootout over host Columbus State in the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Quarterfinal on Sunday. All thanks to the cat-like reflexes of goalkeepr Shannon Aitken.

Aitken seemingly came out of nowhere in the final seconds of regulation play to get a hand on a blistering header from CSU's Gina Goforth. CSU fans had left their feet getting ready to cheer the game-winner when Aitken dove to her left and just tipped the shot away to preserve the tie.

Aitken then made two saves - one again off the foot of Goforth - in the shootout. Courtney Evans, Megan Tobin, and Ashley Flateland scored in the shootout, while CSU got its only scoring shot off the foot of Kellie Myles.

Tampa got on the board first early in the contest. Marissa Bernard took a crossing pass from Emily Stack and slipped it past CSU keeper Monica Sanchez for a 1-0 lead. The goal came just over six minutes into play, before most of the large crowd at the CSU complex had gotten seated.

The Lady Cougars got the equalizer in the 37th minute. Megan Honig somehow got her head on a free kick delivered by Lindsey Morgan after a Tampa foul deep in Spartan territory and fired it through a crowd and into the lower left corner for a score.

CSU would use the momentum from that play to dominate the rest of the half as the period in ended in a 1-1 deadlock.

CSU took the lead just over eight minttes into play in the second half. Kassy Boivin caught up to a dump pass from Hillary Holder and was able to bump it in just over the goal line as Aitken made a diving attempt to stop the ball. Aitken was milliseconds late with her stop as the official ruled the ball had crossed the line. That goal made the score 2-1.

CSU controlled play for much of the rest of the half before Tampa was able to get the game-tying score in the 80th minute. After a long shot from Flateland deflected off the post, Shelby Kuni found the ball at her feet and was able to beat a diving Sanchez to make it 2-2 at the 79:06 mark.

The score remained that way through two overtime periods, setting up the shootout and eventual win by Tampa.

CSU was able to out-shoot the Spartans 12-7 in the game and Aitken came up with two saves. Sanchez had one save in the game. CSU led in corner kicks 8-1 and also held a 25 - 21 advantage in fouls.

CSU ends its season at 20-3-2, while Tampa advances to the NCAA Championship for the second straight year at 18-2-3.