MIAMI — One hundred and 10 minutes of 11-on-11 battle could not settle one of the best matches of the season in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Championship on Wednesday night.
It took a shootout at FIU Soccer Stadium, and unfortunately for the Bearkats, the outcome was not in their favor. Middle Tennessee took advantage of two misses to eliminate Sam Houston 4-2 in a shootout after a 0-0 tie through double overtime.
The fourth-seeded Kats (8-7-3) caught a break on the first penalty kick attempt when FIU missed high above the center of the goal as Sam Houston head coach
Sonia Curvelo decided to go with freshman keeper
Paige Fry in goal after senior
Cassia Souza had a clean sheet through regulation and both overtimes.
Senior
Landri Townsend easily popped her first shootout attempt high into the top right corner where the Blue Raider keeper could not reach for a 1-0 lead.
Middle Tennessee made great shots to score on its next two attempts, but the Bearkats missed theirs. The Blue Raiders took the lead with their third goal on the fourth attempt to force a must-score situation for Sam Houston.
Junior
Jasmine Marquez answered the call for the Kats. She used her experience to place a perfect shot into the bottom left of the goal to keep their advancement hopes alive.
Middle Tennessee was able to get the game-winning shot in its next attempt, but Fry got a hand on it and almost made a remarkable to save to give Sam Houston a shot to tie it.
The Bearkats held the Blue Raiders to only four shots on goal through double overtime. Souza finished with four saves while facing nine total shots.
