ORLANDO, Fla. – USF claimed the 2017 American Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Championship title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship after defeating No. 1-seed UCF, 5-3, in penalty kicks.
The game ended in a shootout after the teams finished 90 minutes of regulation and two overtime periods in a scoreless 0-0 draw.
In the shootout, Most Outstanding Defensive Player Kat Elliott turned aside UCF’s fourth penalty kick, and with the Bulls ahead 4-3, Kelli Burney buried her attempt to clinch the title.
Both teams had a number of scoring opportunities throughout regulation and the overtimes, but Elliott and her counterpart, UCF goalkeeper Vera Varis, turned aside every shot through 110 minutes. Varis made nine saves for the Knights while Elliott had seven in net for the Bulls.
The scoreless draw extended both teams’ unbeaten streaks. The No. 8 Knights will take a 16-game unbeaten streak into the NCAA Tournament, while the Bulls will enter the NCAA Tournament with a nine-game streak.
USF’s Evelyne Viens was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player after scoring in the Bulls’ semifinal win and converting her PK. Her teammates Aubrey Megrath, Andrea Hauksdottir, Burney and Elliott joined her on the All-Tournament Team.
The championship was the first for the Bulls since joining The American; USF had dropped the 2014 and 2015 title matches in penalties.
For the Knights, Morgan Ferrara, Stefanie Sanders and Varis earned All-Tournament accolades.
Both teams will learn their NCAA Championship destinations tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. ET on NCAA.com.
2017 American Women’s Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team
Evelyne Viens, USF
Kelli Burney, USF
Kat Elliott, USF
Aubrey Megrath, USF
Andrea Hauksdottir, USF
Morgan Ferrara, UCF
Vera Varis, UCF
Stefanie Sanders, UCF
Mikayla Morton, Memphis
Elizabeth Woerner, Memphis
Allie Thornton, SMU
Most Outstanding Offensive Player
Evelyne Viens, USF
Most Outstanding Defensive Player
Kat Elliott, USF
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