BARTLESVILLE, Okla. — Oregon Tech (18-2-1) will continue their postseason run after defeating top-seeded Oklahoma Wesleyan (20-2-1) on penalty kicks. The victory for Tech is redemption after the Lady Owls fell at the same juncture in PKs last season. After 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, freshman goalkeeper Sydni Nakamura stole the show, forcing three Eagles misses in the shootout. This will mark the first time in program history that Tech will advance to the soccer championship bracket.
"Speechless," said head coach
Casey Tate. "I am so proud of this group of players and staff. We had to get past a very good Oklahoma Wesleyan team and this group just kept believing in each other and found a way to win. The goal since last year was to get back to this game and find a way to win it and advance. Sydni stepped up and made some unbelievable saves to help us win this. To come off the bench and do what she did was just a huge credit to all her hard work and being ready for her moment."
#2 Oregon Tech 0 (4)
#1 Oklahoma Wesleyan 0 (3)
Heading into Thursday's match, Tech had upset on their mind, looking to spoil No. 10 OKWU's chances to make the championship bracket on their own pitch.
And spoil they did.
After a 110-minute stalemate, where play got chippy at times, Tech found themselves back at square one, penalty kicks.
After failing to score on three consecutive "match-winning" penalty kicks last year, Tech was poised to rewrite the script and book their tickets to Orange Beach.
After the Lady Owls played Alyx Burkhartzmeyer for the entire 110-minutes prior to PKs, they would make a shocking decision, bringing on freshman Sydney Nakamura to face the Eagles.
Tech decided to kick second, giving them the option to see what the Eagles would do ahead of them.
In the first set of PKs, OKWU would convert, but Maddie Miller would follow in suit to tie the shootout at one apiece.
In the second set, OKWU would sky their penalty, and Sylvia Sloss would coolly slot hers in, to put Tech ahead 2-1.
In the third set, OKWU converted, but Amanda Seward just missed the shot, so the shooutout was tied once again at 2-2.
In the fourth set, Tech was pushed to the brink of elimination as OKWU's shot was successful and Karly White saw her penalty saved.
Needing a save to keep the Owls season alive, Sydney Nakamura denied the Eagles keeper to give Tech a chance to tie the match up once again.
Given a second life, Tech took advantage as Mehana Ortiz, Tech's leading goal-scorer, slotted it home leaving no doubt.
Following Ortiz's successful penalty, the shootout would head to sudden death, leaving no room for error for either side.
On the Eagles' next PK, Nakamura dove to her left and made a brilliant kick save to push OKWU on the verge of elimination, shocking their home crowd.
With a chance to advance on the line, Carly Moss left no doubt and slid it past the Eagles keeper to send the Tech faithful into jubilation.
Tech would win 4-3 on penalty kicks, advancing them to the championship bracket in Orange Beach, Alabama where they will compete from November 30-December 6.