DUBUQUE, Iowa – After playing to a draw, the Carleton College women's soccer team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championships by prevailing in a penalty kick shootout, 3-2, over the University of Wisconsin-Superior. The game was tied 0-0 after regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods, but the Knights rallied from down 2-0 in the shootout thanks to three stops by goalkeeper Avery Trapp and conversions by Claire Burbery, Thea Traw, and Kathryn Krese.
 
"I absolutely love this team; I'm so proud of them," said Carleton head coach Jessica Mueller. "And congrats to UW-Superior. They had a great season. They are well-coached and made it really difficult for us tonight. It was a hard-fought battle from start to finish.
 
"We took control of the game in the second half, created tons of chances, and Superior's goalkeeper came up with some really good saves."
 
Carleton (14-2-6) controlled the contest throughout, outshooting UW-Superior (15-7-1) by a 20-8 margin, with eight shots on goal to the Yellowjackets' three. The Knights also had the edge on corner kicks, 13-4.
 
Both teams had postseason experience, as this was the fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth for UW-Superior, and the second straight for Carleton. This was Carleton's first time progressing past the NCAA round of 64 since 2010.
 
Burbery started the barrage of chances Carleton would direct on goal, winning the ball just inside of midfield in the 12th minute, cutting in on goal, and having a hard close-range shot saved by the Yellowjackets' goalie Quinn Clark. The Knights forced two more saves out of Clark in the first half, and just after intermission Superior's junior 'keeper got a hand to a Kresse shot headed to the top corner from a tight angle.
 
In the 73rd minute, Dylan Baker was played into the box and put the ball into the net, but the goal was disallowed for a tight offsides call. Five minutes later Ashlyn Haigh fired a long-range shot, but Clark leapt to tip it over the crossbar.
 
Just after the extra time starting whistle, Baker beat a defender along the endline and poked a shot past the goalie, but it rolled across the goal mouth and trickled agonizingly wide of the far post. In the second overtime period, Kresse found herself alone with Clark twice in one minute, but was denied from point-blank both times, and the game would continue to a penalty shootout, frustrating the Knights but providing credit to a resolute Yellowjacket defense.
 
"We felt confident going into PKs," Mueller said. "We've done well with them in training, and Avery is an incredible goalkeeper. We knew she'd make at least one save… amazing that she made three."
 
Trapp dove to her left to make an excellent save to start the shootout, but Haigh blazed her opening try over. Ava Giswold scored for the Yellowjackets next, and Piper Dean had a shot saved by penalty specialist Elysabeth Lough, who took over in goal for Clark. Mya Holmquist nailed her spot-kick to make it 2-0 and put the Knights in a significant hole.
 
Burbery calmed Carleton nerves with a smooth finish to cut the lead to 2-1. Trapp got a fingertip to the next shot on an all-out dive, and Traw punched her shot into the bottom corner to tie the shootout at 2-2. On the fifth and final kick for Superior, the taker hit it right at Trapp, who smothered it. Kresse then stepped to the spot for Carleton and scored, wheeling off to celebrate the victory with Trapp and a jubilant Knights lineup.
 
Clark kept her team in the game with seven saves. Brynn Crystal forced two saves out of Trapp in the game. Baker was at the center of the Carleton offense, registering a game-high five shots. Trapp made two saves in open play for her 12th shutout involvement this year and ninth solo clean sheet, and made three stops on five shots in the shootout.
 
"We aren't necessarily celebrating yet," said Mueller. "We now prepare to play the No. 2-ranked team in the nation, and we're looking forward to it."
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton will face regional host Loras College (20-0-0)—which is ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Power Index—on Sunday, Nov. 17 at the Rock Bowl for the chance to advance to the NCAA "Sweet Sixteen" for the second time in program history. The game will kick off at 3:00 P.M.
 
Carleton—which entered the NCAA Championships at No. 32 in the NPI— played Loras earlier this season, with the Duhawks pulling out a 1-0 home victory back on Sept. 23.