JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The No. 5 seeded Eastern Kentucky University women's soccer team advances in the 2024 Atlantic Sun Women's Soccer Tournament defeating No. 8 seed Jacksonville 5-4 in penalty kicks after 110 minutes of action on Thursday night at Hodges Stadium.
 
Sophomore midfielder Rachel Robinson earned player of the match honors after scoring the equalizing goal in the 86th minute to bring the Colonels to a 1-1 standoff with the Dolphins.  After two 10-minute overtime periods, senior Kylie Fitzgerald capped a perfect 5-for-5 showing from EKU at the penalty spot to secure the victory.
 
Robinson's goal late in the second half was assisted by defenders Kaitlyn Rowlett and Ciana Miller, Rowlett's second assist of the season and Miller's first.  EKU out-shot Jacksonville 28-11 in the contest, led by the program's three leading goal scorers in Ana Manning, Ella Grode, and Maddy Murphy, who all ended with four shots apiece.
 
Senior goalkeeper Marah Krick went the full 110-minute distance in net with one save.  In penalty kicks, freshman keeper Ruby Morgan split time with Krick and held Jacksonville to a 4-for-5 showing from the spot.
 
With the win, EKU (10-7-3, 7-3-1 ASUN) advances in the ASUN Tournament for the third time in its four seasons as a member of the conference.  Jacksonville (4-10-4, 3-6-2) suffers its season ending loss in the first round, its first conference tournament appearance since 2022.
 
Despite the loss, Jacksonville held EKU scoreless in the first 45 minutes of play and went into the halftime break up one goal after Laura Di Mascio struck an un-assisted ball from nine yards out and found the lower right of the frame.
 
After halftime, EKU applied pressure and in the next 45 minutes of play out-shot the Dolphins 12-5, capitalized by Robinson who took two one-touch passes from Rowlett and Miller and hit a ball over 20 yards out past JU's keeper for the equalizer.
 
EKU and Jacksonville played a tough, physical two overtimes periods after regulation but were unable to take the advantage in the golden goal opportunity.  JU's Madelyn Radtke was issued a yellow in the first overtime period for unsporting conduct, one of the 22 fouls given in the contest.
 
After 110 minutes of action, both teams selected 10 players to go out for penalty kicks.  EKU's Chiara Premoli, Sydney Taylor, Paula Herranz, Rowlett, and Fitzgerald all scored in their penalty kick efforts to mark a complete 5-for-5 showing from the Colonels.  
 
JU's Makayla Woodford missed on the Dolphins fourth attempt to narrow their effort to just 4-for-5 and secure the victory for EKU.
 
Despite a close 90 minutes of regulation, EKU won in possession over throughout the contest claiming 55 percent of the allotted time.  The Colonels also won nine corner kicks to Jacksonville's zero.
 
EKU will move on to face No. 4 seed North Florida on Sunday, Nov. 3 on their home pitch at 6 p.m. EST.  Fans looking to see the Colonels in their quarterfinal matchup can purchase tickets here, those not able to attend the contest can stream it live on ESPN+ beginning five minutes before kickoff.