FARMVILLE, Va. – Picking the perfect date to win their first-ever match at Longwood on Saturday night, the Presbyterian College women's soccer team brought all the drama and came out on top in a penalty kick shootout to eliminate fourth-seed Longwood in the first round of the Big South Championship.

Tied at 0-0 for the second time in two weeks against the Lancers – thanks largely to the excellency of dueling All-Conference keepers Kelly Hall and Sara Curtis – the Blue Hose prevailed in PK's by a margin of 4-2.

In a true storybook ending, it was Hall that delivered the final blow to secure the victory, Presbyterian's first-ever Division I postseason win.

PC had been unable to snare an outright win in any of their previous seven trips to Longwood, including a nil-nil draw just 14 days ago.

That trend was finally broken on Saturday, with the Blue Hose claiming the W in their third-ever Big South Tournament appearance.

The Scotsmen will now go head-to-head with the 2024 conference regular season champions in the league semifinals, set for a rematch against USC Upstate next Thursday at a neutral venue (Matthews, North Carolina).


 
FINAL SCORE – #5 Presbyterian, 0 – #4 Longwood, 0
(PC Advances in PK Shootout, 4-2)
RECORDS – Presbyterian (7-5-5) – Longwood (4-9-6)
LOCATION – Longwood Athletics Complex (Farmville, Va.)




 
COACH SMITH'S SENTIMENTS
 
"I'm incredibly proud of our girls for the way they weathered the storm against a very good Longwood team, and their refusal to lose was contagious all-around. The mantra of the tournament is to survive and advance, and they embodied that tonight."

"Leading up to this game, our most important thought was: how can we spend another week together and keep this train rolling? We found a way to answer that question. This team loves playing with each other, and I certainly enjoy getting to coach them to a program-first."


 
DÉJÀ VU
 
- Due to the postseason nature of Saturday's encounter, a tie at the end of regulation meant that overtime (and later, double overtime) was mandatory. No player was able to break the scoreless tally in a theme that was nearly identical to the regular season meeting with the Lancers.

- In 200 total minutes of action between the Blue Hose and Longwood (covering both matches), the overall score stayed 0-0. Thus, the solution to the Semifinal ticket was a penalty kick shootout.

- As always, Hall was exquisite in defending the PC goal while living up to her all-league title, saving 10 shots while turning in her 11^th career shutout.

- This was the fifth time in 2024 that head coach Matt Smith's team blanked the opponent and the third time it has happened versus a league foe.


 
SEASON ON THE LINE
 
- Presbyterian's vaunted defense held steady despite getting out-shot 18-8 by the higher seed, withstanding two corner kicks in the final three minutes of regulation that maintained the draw.

- Hall threw out the life jacket for coach Smith's crew just 16 seconds into the first overtime period, denying what would have been the game-winner from the home side.

- She would again come up huge with the pressure mounting, logging another save with four seconds left in OT number one.

- Sarah Dieffenderfer forced Longwood to provide their own game-saving play in the second overtime, launching a shot in the 107^th minute that was on-target.


 
PRESBY IN PK'S
 
- Four out of five penalty kicks from the Blue Hose passed by Curtis and drilled the back of the net, starting with Dieffenderfer who got her squad off to a 1-0 jump.

- Hall vetoed the Lancers' attempt to tie up the PK score at 1-1, providing the avenue for freshman Harlan Lyons to convert Presby's second penalty try.

- Longwood again was left scratching their heads as Hall blockaded another, although PC's third penalty kick was also a misfire that kept the margin at 2-0.

- The Lancers' desperation finally allowed them to make their next kick, although coach Smith's gang would go 2-for-2 from then on to move to the next phase of the bracket.

- Lyla Chadd submitted the third hit for the Blue Hose, which positioned Hall to steer in another stop and then deliver the dagger from her own feet.


 
UP NEXT
 
- Perhaps the biggest win in the program's Division I history, PC will rest for the next four days before entering the round of four on Thursday.

- Already annihilating their preseason projection of 7^th place, the Blue Hose will head to the Big South Semifinals for the first time ever and battle the team that captured their inaugural conference crown: USC Upstate.

- The Spartans earned a first-round BYE after coming in 1^st place, designing a very intriguing rematch between two schools located just 30 minutes apart.

- PC played Upstate in the Big South opener way back on September 25, ending a busy evening at Martin Stadium with a 2-2 tie.

- Sydney Lassiter notched her first collegiate goal in that meeting, although the Spartans were able to surge in front just before halftime. A 49^th-minute strike by rookie Allie Williams at 48:44 is what led to the tied decision.