ST. LOUIS - The Westminster College Lady Blue Jays soccer team executed the trick on a topsy-turvy Halloween.
No. 3 seed Westminster edged No. 2 Fontbonne University 3-2 in penalty kicks as the Lady Blue Jays upended the Lady Griffins in the semifinals of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference postseason tournament late Wednesday night.
"Every player stepped up in a big way," Westminster head coach Wendy Sanchez said. "I'm really proud of the team and everything they've aspired to do, they continue to accomplish big things."
A night of surprises began when No. 4 seed Greenville (Illinois) College knocked off No. 1 Webster University 2-1 in double overtime in the first semifinal. The Lady Panthers also halted the Lady Gorloks' 31-game winning streak against SLIAC opponents.
As a result, Westminster (10-4-3) will now host Greenville (14-5-1) for the SLIAC tournament title at 7 tonight at Kent and Judy Mueller Stadium. It's just the second time in SLIAC history that the two lowest seeds advanced to the championship.
The Lady Blue Jays - whose last SLIAC tournament title came in 2015 - played to a scoreless, double-overtime tie at Greenville on Oct. 20. The Lady Panthers have never won a SLIAC tournament championship.
Fontbonne (11-6-2) took the lead over Westminster on Wednesday night with a goal in the 24th minute. The Lady Griffins protected their slight advantage until the Lady Blue Jays pulled even at 1-all in the 78th minute when junior Katherine Hammond scored off a free kick from 20 yards out.
The two teams then battled through a pair of scoreless overtime periods to set the stage for penalty kicks. Senior midfielder Gracie Koonce and Hammond both converted for Westminster, before sophomore midfielder Cara Wilfong broke a 2-all deadlock to send the Lady Blue Jays to the title game.
Westminster junior goalkeeper Sarah Cradick turned away two Fontbonne penalty kicks in finishing with six saves.
"We did not quit on any plays in the second half and we were rewarded for that effort with Kat's amazing goal," Sanchez said. "Cara and (sophomore defender) Alaina (Allsbury) were outstanding for us in the back and they really kept the team composed, which carried us into our penalty kicks."
The Lady Blue Jays prevailed despite being outshot 15-7, including 7-4 in shots on goal. The Lady Griffins had a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.