HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. --- The No. 21 Bellarmine University women's soccer team claimed the program's first Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament Championship over Quincy University on Sunday, taking the title as a result of a 2-1 advantage in penalty kicks after the teams finished the match in a 1-1 tie.

“This is something we have been talking about since preseason and the summer,” said head coach Jonathan Velotta. “It's what these girls work towards everyday and they earned it everyday in practice.”

The game was a defensive grudge match in the opening half, as neither team could find the back of the net. Bellarmine (15-2-3, 12-1-1 GLVC) headed into break owning an advantage in shots, 6-3, while both teams had two corner kicks.

Sophomore strike Lauren Boyd broke the scoreless tie in the 61st minute as she lofted a shot from 15 yards out over Quincy keeper Jodi Chapie's hands and into the back of the net. The shot came off a pass from senior Lauren Triplett, as she registered her fifth assist of the year.

The Hawks tied the game up at one when Sam Andert headed home a free kick from just outside the box off the foot of Megan Wingenbach. Bellarmine almost won the game in the 78th minute when a goal was disallowed by an offside call.

In overtime, both defenses again were in lockdown mode as Quincy managed just two shots in the first overtime to Bellarmine's one. Neither team registered a shot in the second overtime to send the game into
penalty kicks.

Quincy struck first in PK's as Sam Martinez hammered home the Hawks first attemt as Triplett could not convert hers. It would be the only penalty kick that Bellarmine keeper Amy Kunowski would allow, as she made saves on the next three attempts by Quincy. The Knights evened the score on their second attempt as Boyd would get a shot pass Chapie.

After both teams missed opportunities in round three, and Kunowski making a save on Quincy's round four attempt, Velotta elected to go with freshman reserve Emily Hollander for Bellarmine attempt. She would come through for Velotta, finding the top right corner of the net. The goal would decide the match as Emma Walker's ensuing PK would sail wide, giving the Knights the crown.

Velotta had complete confidence in inserting a freshman, who had not played all game, into such a crucial moment. “We've practiced them all week and she's looked as good as anyone had,” he said. “She rose to the occasion and I'm proud of her, and all the girls, on the way they preformed.”

Bellarmine now awaits word on seeding for the NCAA Tournament, which will come Monday night. They were ranked third in the Midwest Region heading into the GLVC Tournament, but the top two seeds will host opening rounds.

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