On Wednesday, the third-seeded UTRGV Women’s Soccer Team defeated sixth seed California State University, Bakersfield 4-3 in penalties during the quarterfinals game at the Western Athletic Conference Tournament at Clyde Field in Orem, Utah.
With the win over CSUB, the Vaqueras qualified to the WAC Tournament semifinal game for the first time in program history. UTRGV will face off against second seed Seattle University at 4 p.m. Friday in Clyde Field.
In an interview with a WAC reporter after the game that was posted on the conference website, Head Coach Glad Bugariu said the team has to have a tremendous performance against Seattle University.
“We haven’t lost to them in two years,” Bugariu told the WAC reporter. “They’ll be out for some revenge. They’re a very tough team, very well-coached. It’s going to be a monumentis game and we have to have a tremendous performance to be able to beat them.”
After a scoreless 110 minutes in Wednesday’s game, the destiny of both teams would be decided in penalty kicks.
CSUB freshman midfielder Evelyn Daly took the first kick, putting the Roadrunners up 1-0. UTRGV junior forward Sarah Bonney followed for the Vaqueras, but the shot was blocked by CSUB junior goalie Jordan Bertram.
Senior midfielder Sabrina Delgado of CSUB made the second penalty kick of the game. UTRGV senior defender Tuva Nilsen scored the first goal of the game for the Vaqueras, but the team was still trailing 2-1.
The big break for UTRGV came when Roadrunners senior forward Aminah Settles’ shot was blocked by the Vaqueras’ junior goalie, Kinga Szemik.
UTRGV junior defender Katherine Stokely put the Vaqueras back into the game as she made the 2-2 tying penalty kick.
Szemik blocked CSUB junior midfielder Aryana Harvey’s shot. UTRGV freshman forward Emily Zapata used the opportunity and scored her penalty kick to extend the lead 3-2 in favor of the Vaqueras.
CSUB freshman midfielder/defender Caitlin Goetjen tied up the penalty kicks 3-3 as she made her shot and Szemik missed.
It would all come down to the final shot of the game. CSUB senior midfielder Coral Lake took the kick, but was blocked by Szemik. The fate of UTRGV was in the hands of junior midfielder Diana Ansah. With no hesitation, she put the ball into the net.
Ansah scored the game-winning penalty kick and secured UTRGV’s pass to the semifinal game of the tournament.
