NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The challenge of facing Lipscomb's high-powered attack once again brought out the best in the Bellarmine University women's soccer team's defense.

Unlike the regular-season matchup, though, the Bisons had additional time to work with in the quarterfinals of the ASUN Championship on Sunday afternoon at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex when regulation time ended with teams even at 1.

Despite facing a barrage of shots, seventh-seeded Bellarmine had held third-seeded Lipscomb at bay, but the Bisons managed to break through with the golden goal in the second overtime of a 2-1 win over the Knights.

Senior midfielder Emma Nicholson scored a first-half goal for Bellarmine (5-12-3), which concluded its best season in the Division-I era in Callie McKinney's first year as the head coach after setting new D1-era standards in total wins and conference wins (four). The Knights landed their first ASUN Championship berth since 2021 and advanced in the tournament after defeating sixth-seeded Austin Peay 4-3 in a PK shootout after a 1-1 draw.

Bellarmine played to a scoreless stalemate with Lipscomb (12-3-4) in the regular season. The two defensive performances were very similar: while the Bisons racked up a battery of shots in the rematch, the Knights once again limited the truly dangerous chances.

Bellarmine even delivered the first big punch. In the ninth minute, Nicholson gathered a teammate's deflected shot near the top of the box, made a deft spin to her left and rifled a shot inside the near post. Nicholson pushed her D1-era program record to eight goals.

Lipscomb finished with 15 shots in the second half. The Bisons finally leveled the contest in the 74th minute when Paige Archbold tapped in an Alivia Carapazza free kick from near the right sideline.

Neither team scored again in regulation time or the first overtime. Junior forward Lucy von Stefenelli whistled a shot from the top of the box in the second OT that Lipscomb's goalkeeper had to reach high to knock away.

With approximately three minutes remaining, ASUN Player of the Year Kiara Pralle made a cross from near the end line that found Hailey Johnson inside the 6, and Johnson punched it into the net for the golden goal.

Lipscomb finished with a 27-6 advantage in shots, including 9-3 on frame. Bellarmine senior goalkeeper Cambria Kingman corralled seven saves.

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