SPRINGFIELD, Ore. –
Shae Waters stopped a Kylie Cowell shot in the eighth-round of a penalty shootout, propelling the College of Idaho to the semifinals of the Cascade Conference Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, topping Oregon Tech at the Les Schwab Soccer Park.
After the two teams played to a scoreless draw through regulation and two overtime periods – both squads missed their first attempts in the shootout. After each team converted six-straight attempts from the spot, freshman
Laura Staropoli gave the Lady Yotes (10-4-3) the 7-6 lead in Round 8 with a strike to the top right corner of the net. Tech had a chance to prolong the match, but Cowell's attempt to the far post was deflected out by Waters – sending the No. 6 seed through to tomorrow's semi.
C of I will meet No. 5 seed Northwest in tomorrow's semifinal at 4 p.m. (PT) – with a berth in Saturday's title game on the line.
The Owls (11-4-3) had the run of the pitch in the first half, holding a commanding 12-5 edge in shots and registering four corner kick chances, but Waters was up to the task, turning away four shots on frame.
OIT had a chance to break through just five minutes into the second half, but a Cowell 25-yard strike banged off the crossbar. The Yotes generated multiple quality opportunities after the break – as
Victoria Cerda missed a 20-yard shot just left in the 69th minute off a corner kick clearance and a one-timer from
Emily Carrell in the 80th minute was redirected by the Tech back line.
Both teams nearly won the match late – as Waters made a diving save in the 86th minute to stop a Salyna Blue shot from the left side of the box – while in the 103rd minute, an
Emma Powley sitter just outside the 6-yard-box was stopped by Owls keeper Jenna Stiehr.
OIT held a 25-15 edge in total shots and a 6-5 edge in corner kicks. Waters finished the afternoon with six saves in helping C of I to their seventh shutout of the season.
