FORT MYERS, Fla. — Finally, a tie the Bellarmine University women's soccer team could get fully behind.

On Friday night in the ASUN Championship quarterfinals, the Knights fired four straight bull's-eyes and senior goalkeeper Elyssa Francis stonewalled two attempts by Florida Gulf Coast University as they won a penalty kick shootout 4-3 following a 1-1 tie after two overtimes at the FGCU Soccer Complex.

The irony of Bellarmine advancing to its first-ever conference tournament semifinals in Division I in a match that officially goes down as a tie is unmistakable. The contest marked the eighth — yes, the EIGHTH — draw of the season for Bellarmine (4-6-8), including five straight to start the year.

But this time the Knights exited the pitch in complete satisfaction after yet another stalemate. They were the four-seed from the West Division and vanquished the title hopes of FGCU (10-7-1), which was the East's top seed.

Bellarmine will meet East three-seed Kennesaw State at 1 p.m. (ET) Sunday at FGCU. The Owls advanced with a 4-3 overtime win over Central Arkansas.

The dramatics began long before the PK shootout. With less than two minutes left in regulation, Bellarmine was trailing 1-0 when freshman midfielder Lily Markey headed the ball toward a pack of players near the 6. Amid the scrum, senior midfielder Lauren Mackey managed to poke the ball forward and into the net to equalize the contest.

After a pair of scoreless overtimes, the match proceeded into PKs. FGCU went first and Francis immediately came up with a huge stop.

Bellarmine was clutch throughout the shootout. Senior defender Elise Markley buried the opening attempt, and senior midfielder Sarah Buse, sophomore forward Sophie Bish and Mackey followed by sinking their chances as the Knights built a 4-3 lead after four rounds.

Francis ended it in the fifth round when she knocked down Ashlee Brentlinger's attempt at the upper left corner, triggering a delirious celebration by the Knights.

FGCU scored its goal in the 31st minute. Malaya Melancon blocked a Bellarmine clear attempt and chased down the ricochet, finding the net from close distance for a 1-0 lead. Mackey's tying goal in the 89th minute was her first of the season.

FGCU finished with a 21-8 advantage in shots but held only a 5-3 edge on frame.

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