Belhaven University Athletics

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Addi Roberts made 10 saves through 110 minutes, then stopped Asbury's first two penalty kicks as Belhaven advanced to its third consecutive CCS Women's Soccer Championship match Friday night. The Blazers and Eagles finished level at 2-2 before Belhaven won the shootout, 4-1.

Mary McCardle put Belhaven ahead with her first career goal just 3:42 into the semifinal, ending an Asbury shutout streak that had lasted four matches. Roberts had already made a save in the opening minutes and added another before McKenzee Gregory doubled the lead at 19:52. Alexis Whiting and Kinsey Carter assisted on Gregory's goal.

Asbury pulled one back with 21 seconds left in the first half. Following a corner kick, Maggie Perry scored off a pass from Lauren Davis to send the Eagles into the break trailing 2-1.

Perry struck again at 63:15, with Davis and Anna Sparks credited with assists, to tie the match. Asbury kept pressing, but Roberts saved shots from Julia Baker and Molly Spalding in the final eight minutes of regulation. She made three more saves in overtime as the Eagles took all five shots across the two extra periods.

Asbury finished with a 24-8 advantage in shots, including 12-6 on goal, and took 14 corners to Belhaven's eight. Roberts' 10 saves kept the Blazers in position to decide the semifinal.

Abby Jordan opened the shootout with a goal for Belhaven. Roberts denied Milei Baker and Eva De Sousa on Asbury's first two attempts, while Carter and Whiting converted to give the Blazers a 3-0 lead. Lauren Davis scored for the Eagles, but McCardle answered with the clinching kick. Belhaven converted all four of its attempts.

The defending champion Blazers will play in the CCS final for the third straight season. Their first CCS Tournament victory came against Huntingdon in 2022, a 2-0 quarterfinal shutout at Belhaven Bowl Stadium. Belhaven will play for another tommorow evening at 5 p.m. CT in Huntsville. The winner earns the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Championship.

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