WICHITA, Kan. - For the second time during the Friends University Women's Soccer KCAC Tournament run, the No. 2-seeded Falcons found themselves in a penalty kick shootout and came out on top. Friends defeated the No. 3-seeded Kansas Wesleyan 4-3 in PKs tonight (Nov. 7) at Adair-Austin Stadium to advance to the KCAC Tournament Championship for the 4th season in a row.
Kansas Wesleyan struck first, taking a 1-0 lead early in the first half on a goal from Brooklyn Velotta. The Coyotes carried that advantage into halftime despite Friends creating several scoring opportunities.
The Falcons continued to apply pressure in the second half and eventually found the equalizer late in the second half.
Kieley Aranda finished off a pass from
Musa Mnisi to even the score at 1-1.
Neither team could find the go-ahead goal through the remainder of regulation or either overtime period, sending the match to penalty kicks for a chance to go to the KCAC Tournament Championship game.
Friends came through in the shootout, converting four of its five attempts. Aranda,
Payton Kauffman and
Peyton Martin-Peterson each converted their attempts before
Elisa Murrietta buried the decisive kick to secure the 4-3 shootout victory and send the Falcons to the KCAC Tournament Championship.
Friends generated 12 shots, including six on goal, while Kansas Wesleyan recorded eight shots with seven on frame.
Kieley Aranda scored the lone goal for the Falcons in the second half off an assist from
Musa Mnisi. Aranda led Friends with four shots, putting three on goal. Murrietta added three shots, including two on frame, while
Anahi Ibarra-Arevalo recorded two shots with one on goal.
Kaitlyn Martinez finished with six saves over 110 minutes in goal.
Brooklyn Velotta scored Kansas Wesleyan's lone goal in regulation and put all three of her shots on goal. Victoria Poon recorded the assist on the Velotta's goal. Bianka Waxman played all 110 minutes in goal and finished with four saves.
With the victory, the Falcons advance to the KCAC Women's Soccer Tournament Championship this Wednesday (Nov. 11), where they will face the top-seeded and reigning tournament champion the Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles. The championship match will take place at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kan., with kickoff scheduled for 4:00 p.m., following the men's championship game.
