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UNA’s women’s soccer team entered the Gulf South Conference

Tournament as the second seed after compiling a 6-1 conference

record and a 15-3 record overall for the season. 

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The Lions were in search of their first ever GSC Conference title

with just fourth-ranked Christian Brothers and top-ranked West

Florida standing in their way.

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UNA drew Christian Brothers in the first round of the four team

tournament, and the Lions were comfortable victors putting away the

Bucs 2-0 last Friday. Heather Farmer was able to convert a Nikki

Brown cross for the Lions’ first goal just seconds from

halftime.

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UNA continued their domination of the match in the second half, and

in the 76th minute Chloe Roberts did what she has done 26 previous

times this season: scored a goal. 

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Her 27th goal of the season tied her with West Florida’s Shakira

Duncan for the most goals this season in Division II.

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After dispensing of Christian Brothers, the Lions faced Duncan and

her Argos teammates in a rematch of the GSC Tournament final from a

year ago for this season’s title. UNA was also looking for revenge

as UWF was the Lions’ only conference loss for the season.

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Jordan Stone put the Argos up 1-0 after 38 minutes of play, and UWF

would carry that lead into the intermission. Jo Chubb equalized the

match at 1-1 in the 69th minute off an assist from Roberts.

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West Florida took the lead late in the match with less than 15

minutes to play when Alexis Garrand finished a Duncan assist to

give the Argos a 2-1 lead, and UWF took their lead into the last

minute of the match.

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The Lions had other plans however, and Roberts was able to find an

improbable goal with only 33 seconds left in regulation. Roberts’

goal tied the match at 2-2, and sent the game to extra time after

the 90 minutes ended. 

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Twenty more minutes of scoreless play in extra time ended, which

forced penalty kicks to decide the match.

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Goalkeeper Alex McLay had made 10 saves during regulation and

overtime, and the Lions needed her to come up big during the

shootout. Brown and Roberts converted their penalties to even the

shootout at 2-2 after four shooters apiece. 

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After a Loud miss in the fifth round, up stepped 2009 Division II

and 2010 GSC Player of the Year Duncan with a chance to win the

tournament with a penalty kick.

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McLay stoned Duncan’s effort to preserve the Lions’ title chances.

It was also McLay’s third save of the shootout.

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Four more rounds pursued with neither team being able to break the

deadlock until the 9th round when UNA’s Beth Spurr was unable to

convert her shot. 

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Alexis Pugh proceded to score the winner, and West Florida won the

shootout 5-4 which gave them the GSC Championship. 

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McLay along with fellow teammates Chubb, Roberts, and Julia Osmond

were named to the All-Tournament Team for their stellar

performance.

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The loss gave UNA its second GSC second-place finish and put the

Lions record at 16-3-1 for the season.