LIVINGSTON, Ala. – It was fitting of a playoff matchup. With both teams closely matched, the game would go into extra time. After both overtimes were played and no winner was decided, West Alabama was able to take the 4-2 win in penalty kicks after the teams were tied at 1-1 following 110 minutes against Delta State in the quarterfinal round of the Gulf South Conference Championships Sunday in front of a large crowd at Tiger Stadium.

"It was a tremendous night at Tiger Stadium. So grateful for everyone showing up to support their University and pushing on our ladies," head coach Graeme Orr said. "I am so appreciative of the ladies. Moments like tonight don't happen too often in soccer, so you have to enjoy it and recover for the next round. Tonight I believe my assistant (Morgan Brown) was the difference. Her dedication and attention to detail gave us the platform to advance."

With the win, UWA moves on to the semifinals of the GSC Championships where they will face second-seed Mississippi College who defeated seventh-seed Christian Brothers by a score of 3-0 in the quarterfinals. The two teams will match up this coming Friday at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Ala.

"I'm extremely proud of the girls today. Like I said previously, we have such a young team, but you would never guess with the grit and determination each player has and they put that on full display today," Paige Laidler said. "Penalty kicks are tough and a testing environment to be in. Absolute credit to Maria Mon for making two amazing saves. Full focus is on to Friday, and I know we will be ready."

Right out of the gate, UWA (10-5-2, 9-3-1 GSC) generated a strong chance in the third minute when Anna Dickov put a shot on goal that was saved by Bailey Daugherty. Sierra O'Grady kept the pressure up in the fourth minute with another shot on target that was saved.

After Delta State (10-6-3, 7-4-2 GSC) attempted their first shot in the 16^th minute that went wide, the Tigers broke through a few minutes later.

In the 21^st minute, Aileen Charles was able to find Mikayla Anderson who ripped a shot from about 15 yards out that sailed into the net for the 1-0 lead for the Tigers.

"I thought today's performance against Delta State was an amazing team effort," Anderson said. "So many of the girls stepped up today, especially those who took a penalty kick to win us the game. I'm so proud of our entire team and the positive energy everyone brings on and off the pitch and I can't wait for our next game."

The lead wouldn't last long. After DSU took a shot that went wide in the 24^th minute, the next shot evened the score. Robyn Moody setup Jae'lasha Julien for the tying goal in the 25^th minute when she knocked home the header for the 1-1 tie.

UWA added a couple more shots in the final minutes of the first half that were saved by Daugherty to keep the game tied at 1-1 at the break.

Maria Mon started to come up large for the Tigers in the second half. After Mon turned away a save in the 57^th minute, UWA came back strong generating chances from Paige Laidler, Dickov and Dana Cruz, with two being saved.

Mon answered those saves with her own in the 65^th minute. Over the final 10 minutes, both goalies came up big to keep the game tied. Daugherty tallied saves on Laidler and Cruz and then between those chances, Mon collected two more saves. Mon made one last save in the 87^th minute to keep the game tied and send the playoff contest into overtime.

With the new NCAA rules, no overtimes were played during the regular season and wouldn't be contested until playoff time.

In the first overtime, Laidler fired a shot that went wide in the 93^rd minute. Delta State then took the final three shots of the overtime, with Mon making a save in the 98^th minute to send the game to a second overtime.

In the second overtime, DSU had the first two chances in the 101^st and 103^rd minutes that both went wide. After another chance sailed high in the 107^th minute, Mon kept the game tied once again with a save in the 109^th minute to send the game into penalty kicks.

In the penalty kicks, UWA went first. Venla Makela was up first for the Tigers and she scored the opening goal. Mon gave the Tigers the early lead when she recorded the save on the ensuing try. Cruz moved UWA to a 2-0 lead scoring on the second attempt. Delta State countered scoring their first goal of the PKs to leave the Tigers with the 2-1 lead. Mon then took a turn attempting a shot for the Tigers and she scored the third straight goal for UWA for the 3-1 lead. DSU answered leaving the Tigers with the 3-2 lead. The fourth round of the PKs neither team was able to score with UWA missing their attempt and Mon making the save to keep the Tigers in front at 3-2. That meant UWA could win the PKs scoring in the fifth round. Laidler stepped up and buried the shot to send UWA to the 4-2 win in PKs and the 2-1 overall victory.

DSU held the 17-12 lead in overall shots, while UWA had the edge in shots on goal at 10-8. DSU held a slight 5-4 edge in corner kicks and there were 20 combined fouls, with 11 whistled on UWA.

Laidler led the Tigers with three shots and one on goal. Both Cruz and Dickov each fired two shots on goal apiece. Mon collected seven saves.

Casey Stalder paced Delta State with four shots (two on goal). Rainey Niles added three shots on goal. Daugherty came up with eight saves in goal.

UWA will now prepare to face Mississippi College in the semifinals of the GSC Championships this coming Friday starting at 6 p.m. at John Hunt Park in Huntsville. The other semifinal will be top-seed West Florida against fifth-seed Lee. West Florida pulled out the 2-1 win over eighth-seed West Georgia and fifth-seed Lee pulled out the 3-2 win over fourth-seed Montevallo.