SANTA CLARA — The Santa Clara women’s soccer team’s bid to defend its NCAA national championship ended on penalty kicks on Friday night at a sold-out Stevens Stadium.
After the teams went scoreless through regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods of the College Cup semifinal, BYU emerged with a 3-2 victory on penalty kicks to advance to the national championship game Monday against Florida State.
The 12th-ranked Broncos (15-6-2), who won the national title in May on penalty kicks, entered the tournament unseeded and weren’t eliminated until Ellie Glenn’s attempt hit the post. The shootout was 2-2 when BYU’s Olivia Wade converted her penalty kick. Glenn’s miss then sealed it.
BYU (18-4-1) is making its first-ever appearance in a national title game. The game is being played Monday due to BYU’s rule against playing on Sundays.
Santa Clara had won nine straight NCAA tournament games and was making its 12th appearance in the College Cup.
SCU’s Sally Menti made the first attempt of the penalty kick phase while BYU missed its first two. With a chance to go up 2-0, Nicole Sweeney sent her shot over the crossbar. BYU took advantage of the opening and converted the next three opportunities while only Izzy D’Aquila converted on the Broncos’ final three attempts.
It was a tight, physical game throughout. Santa Clara goalkeeper Kylie Foutch had eight saves in regulation and extra time, while Cassidy Smith had seven for BYU.
Both teams had chances in overtime to end the game in sudden death. In the first extra session, BYU’s Kendell Petersen blasted a shot from 20 yards out that was tipped by the Broncos’ Foutch, hitting the crossbar.
Two minutes into the second overtime, D’Aquila’s header was on frame but it was cleared off the line by a Cougar defender. D’Aquila also had header from close range near te end of regulation that missed just wide of the post. D’Aquila led all players with seven shots.
Last season’s College Cup final was played in May after the coronavirus pandemic postponed the 2020 season. The Broncos won the title on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Florida State.
Thirteenth-ranked BYU defeated South Carolina 4-1 in the quarterfinals. The Cougars led the NCAA in scoring this season with an average of 3.5 goals a game.
In the earlier game, Jaelin Howell scored in the 71st minute and Florida State advanced to the championship game with a 1-0 victory over Rutgers.
The top-ranked Seminoles defeated Michigan 1-0 on a golden goal in overtime to reach the semifinals. Florida State won national titles in 2014 and 2018 and is playing in its 12th College Cup.
Howell broke through with a rebound goal from close range off a corner kick. Florida State goalkeeper Cristina Roque made four saves.
“We knew that Rutgers was going to be a great team and we had to stay patient throughout the course of the game, and I thought we did a good job of that,” Howell said. “We were a little sloppy in the first half, but came out composed in the second half and we knew that things were going to open up if we played together and had patience. So when that goal came, I was just excited to contribute.”
Rutgers, the Big Ten regular-season champion, was making its first College Cup appearance since 2015. The fifth-ranked Scarlet Knights advanced to the semifinals on penalties after a 2-2 draw with Arkansas.
“We’ve had a great year. They were brilliant tonight, created chances, executed a game plan and worked hard as a team,” Rutgers coach Mike O’Neill said. “We talk about being 28 strong, and we were 28 strong this evening and left nothing on the field. So disappointed in the result, but it’s been a historic year and I’m very, very proud.”
Florida State made it to last season’s College Cup final, which was played in May after the coronavirus pandemic postponed the 2020 season. Santa Clara won the title on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: www.mercurynews.com