BREVARD, N.C. - Following 110 minutes of scoreless action, the Brevard College women's soccer team (12-4-3) edged Meredith College (4-5-7) 4-2 in a penalty kick shootout, as junior forward Rachael Trifoli scored the final PK that sent the Tornados to the Semifinals of the 2023 USA South Conference Women's Soccer Tournament on Halloween evening at Ives-Lemel Family Field.
 
BC, the third seed in the tournament, will advance to take on two-seed Methodist University on Thursday in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
 
The shootout ensued after a full 90 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods. Kiara Porcelli put in her first PK attempt, but was answered by Meredith's Haley Vasquez. Meredith took a 2-1 edge after a miss just high from Grace Black and a PK make from Kendall Carroll, but the Tornados stormed back with makes from Hayley Kenney and Abby Nunez, and a stellar save from Nunez, who checked in at the onset of the shootout for Nicole Arroyo. The shootout was clinched when Trifoli lined up from the spot and drilled her attempt into the right corner as celebration ensued for the Tornados, who advance to the semifinals of a conference tournament for the first time ever in the NCAA era.
 
Prior to the shootout, Brevard and Meredith played to a scoreless draw despite a 20-9 shot advantage for the Tornados throughout the match. Additionally, Meredith was forced to play one player down from the 63rd minute on after Audrey Taylor was shown her second yellow of the match. Avenging Angel GK Kasey Wilkins made five saves, while Arroyo stopped a pair of shots for the Tornados and Abbie Worsencroft made a team save with a clearance off the line that preserved Brevard's shutout late.
 
Mikayla Zvekan attempted a team-best five shot attempts for the Tornados, while Abby Mayer and Autumn Wright attempted three shots each. BC had a 7-4 edge on corner kick attempts as well in the contest.
 
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