NEWBERRY - The Newberry College women's soccer team took Lenoir-Rhyne to penalty kicks in its First Round matchup against the Bears in the Food Lion SAC Women's Soccer Tournament, but the scarlet and grey fell 3-2 in penalty kicks after the teams battled to a 1-1 tie through two overtimes.

No. 3 Newberry (13-4-2) and No. 6 Lenoir-Rhyne (14-6-1) each scored once early in the first half and stayed tied through more than 94 minutes of soccer that came to an end when Lenoir-Rhyne's Shannon Agnew scored the game-winning penalty kick.

With the game deadlocked at 1-1, Michaela Peach (Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, England) lined up to take Newberry's first kick. Peach pushed her shot a bit high and the ball glanced off the crossbar.

Lenoir-Rhyne sent Catherine Hauck up to kick, and she converted to give the Bears a 1-0 lead in the shootout. Newberry followed with Sara Geisman (Middleburg Heights, Ohio), whose shot to the right side of the goal found the hands of Lenoir-Rhyne goalkeeper Katelyn Burwell, who made the save.

Newberry goalkeeper Emily Rhoades (Buckley, Wash.) saved the next kick from Lenoir-Rhyne, sent in from Laura Linehan. Newberry's Amber Chase tried to even the shootout tally, but her shot ricocheted off of the right post and the Bears retained the 1-0 lead.

Lenoir-Rhyne then tabbed Marianne Broevik to kick, but Emily Rhoades was equal to the challenge and made her second save of the shootout to keep the scarlet and gray's deficit to one.
Newberry's fourth shooter was Lora Moore (Raleigh, N.C.), who found the back of the net two pull the teams even, 1-1. Two shooters remained for Lenoir-Rhyne, while Newberry had one left to field.

After Lenoir-Rhyne's Casey McDonnell converted on her chance, it was up to Sara Griffith (Marietta, Ga.) to force Lenoir-Rhyne to send its final shooter. Griffith scored, bringing the penalty kick tally to 2-2.

Unfortunately for Newberry, Lenoir-Rhyne's Shannon Agnew scored on her chance, giving Lenoir-Rhyne the shootout win and an advancement to the Food Lion SAC Women's Soccer Tournament Semifinals. Lenoir-Rhyne will meet No. 2 Tusculum in the Semifinals on Friday, who advanced over No. 7 Lincoln Memorial in penalty kicks today, 3-1.

The match began with each team looking to beat the other's defense with long crosses up the field. Lenoir-Rhyne found the net first, scoring in the 15th minute when Casey McDonnell corralled a loose ball and shot a ball past Emily Rhoades, giving the Bears a 1-0 lead.

Newberry answered just over two minutes later. Ashley Reetz (Summerville S.C.) navigated away from Lenoir-Rhyne defenders and launched a shot from a sharp angle 20 yards away. The ball rocketed past Lenoir-Rhyne goalkeeper Katelyn Burwell, crossing the line and pulling Newberry even, 1-1.

Both teams battled throughout the first and second halves looking for a go-ahead goal, but neither could find a score. Lenoir-Rhyne registered the only shots in either of the two overtime periods, with three in the first and one in the second.

Seven different Newberry players had one shot each. Ashley Reetz, Amberly Fowler (Greenville, S.C.) and Michaela Peach each had a shot on goal for the scarlet and gray.

Newberry goalkeeper Emily Rhoades made five saves in the contest. Her record moves to 13-4-2.

Newberry will await the NCAA Regional bid announcements on Monday, November 9.