ST. LOUIS -- The fifth seeded University of Missouri-St. Louis women's soccer team tied top seeded and eighth ranked Maryville 1-1 but advanced to the GLVC Championship game by defeating the Saints 5-4 in a penalty shootout at Creve Coeur Soccer Park on Thursday evening.
 
It's the sixth time in school history that the Tritons have advanced to the conference final and they're seeking their first title in program history. It's their first appearance in the title match since 2015.
 
Emily Bloomfield opened the game's scoring in the 71st minute. A handball on Maryville gave UMSL (13-3-3) a free kick within striking distance of the goal. Bloomfield lined up and sent her kick into the six-yard box. Saints keeper Agnes Vilen came off her line but missed the ball which trickled into the back of the net to put the Tritons ahead 1-0.
 
Maryville (15-0-3) would answer 15 minutes later. Lotte Brands sent a cross in from the left side of the box in the 85th minute. Emily Doane got her head on the ball and directed it to the near post, just past a diving Mary Kate Neal to level the score at one.
 
UMSL and the Saints were evenly matched through the first overtime period.
 
Neal came off her line twice to keep the score tied at one though her best save of the game came with four minutes left in the second overtime. Maryville fired a point-blank shot that had Neal diving to her left to keep the ball out of the net without giving up a corner kick.
 
At the end of the second overtime, the Saints thought they had scored the game winner as time expired, but a foul was called negating the goal and sent the game to the shootout.
 
Both the Saints and the Tritons made their first four penalties. Bloomfield, Taylor Martin, Jada Holloman, and Aubree Wallace all converted for the Tritons.
 
On Maryville's fifth PK, Sara Lawler put the ball high to the left and Neal, guessing correctly, was able to make the save, punching the ball well over the crossbar.
 
Kayley Judy stepped up for UMSL and buried her PK to win the game and send the Tritons through to the Championship match.
 
UMSL had four shots in the game with two on net. The defense, led by Neal, withstood 18 shots with nine on goal by the Saints. Neal matched her career-high with eight saves in the match.
 
The Tritons will face third seeded McKendree in the Championship match at 12 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 16) at Creve Coeur Soccer Park. McKendree defeated second seeded Drury 2-1 in the other semifinal contest.