FOLEY, Ala. – After playing 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, Ece Turkoglu blasted a penalty kick for the game-winner as six-seed Old Dominion defeated second-seed South Alabama 4-3 in penalty kicks to advance to its first Sun Belt Conference championship game on Friday night.
With the win, the Monarchs advance to a 2 pm EST final on Sunday against either James Madison or Georgia State and will be streamed on ESPN+. The victory for ODU (8-8-3) stopped South Alabama's streak of having won the last three tournament titles and eight of the last nine.
"What a team win. And I honestly think we deserved the win tonight based on how we played," said ODU head coach Angie Hind. "First half we were excellent and created a few really good chances. Credit to South Alabama, they are a great team and there is a reason they have dominated this conference for a decade. They came at us second half and we had to dig in a bit. In the overtime, I think was two good teams trying to find a way to win the game."
Heading to penalties, Old Dominion had outshot South Alabama 17-12. The Jaguars stepped to the line first as they missed their first two kicks, but made their next three. Riley Kennett, Yuliia Khrystiuk, and Cami Johnstone connected early for the Monarchs as it was tied 3-3 through six rounds. South Alabama (11-2-7) found the post with its next attempt to set up Turkoglu for the game-winner. She blasted one into the upper right corner to put the Monarchs into the final.
"When it goes to penalties it's honestly anybody's game," said Hind. "We are so proud of how our players held their nerve, showed great individual confidence and won the moment. Special mention has to go to Emily Bredek and her impact in goal for the shootout. We are so proud of this group and now to recover and be ready for the final."
Bredek made five saves heading into penalties and earned her third clean sheet of the season.
Turkoglu's Penalty Kick Leads Women's Soccer To Sun Belt Conference Final
