CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Virginia outlasted Washington in a penalty shootout marathon Sunday after 110 scoreless minutes following a 1-1 draw, with the top-seeded Cavaliers advancing in NCAA tournament play at Klöckner Stadium. The match showcased defensive resilience from both sides, with Washington's Kalea Eichenberger and Virginia's Addison Halpern trading goals before the drama extended through two overtime periods.
Eichenberger struck first in the 13th minute, capitalizing on Anna Menti's service to give Washington the early lead. Menti's clever pass split Virginia's backline, finding Eichenberger making a diagonal run into the box. The forward controlled with her first touch before firing low past Victoria Safradin to stun the home crowd and give the Huskies a 1-0 advantage.
Virginia dominated possession in response but couldn't convert their territorial control into goals. Halpern fired three attempts in quick succession between the 30th and 34th minutes, though two sailed wide and one was saved by Tanner Ijams. The Cavaliers' frustration mounted as Washington's compact defensive shape frustrated their attacking patterns through the opening 45 minutes.
The breakthrough finally came eight minutes into the second half. Ella Carter drove down the right wing before cutting the ball back to Laney Rouse at the top of the box. Rouse's clever touch laid the ball into Halpern's path, and Virginia's leading scorer made no mistake, rifling a low shot past Ijams to level the match at 1-1 in the 53rd minute.
From that point forward, both teams had chances to win in regulation. Samiah Shell tested Safradin twice in the second half, both times seeing her shots saved at close range in the 61st and 72nd minutes. Virginia responded with attacking waves, though Jill Flammia and Carter couldn't find the target despite creating quality opportunities.
The first overtime period brought Virginia agonizingly close to victory. Kiki Maki's shot crashed off the crossbar in the 92nd minute, sending gasps through the crowd. Washington weathered the storm, earning three consecutive corner kicks late in the period to shift momentum back in their favor.
The second overtime maintained the frantic pace. Pearl Cecil struck the woodwork in the 106th minute, Virginia's second shot to hit the frame. Tatum Galvin forced a spectacular save from Ijams in the 109th minute, the Washington goalkeeper diving full stretch to deny what seemed a certain winner.
With no breakthrough after 110 minutes, penalties would decide the victor. The shootout drama unfolded with both teams trading successful conversions. Ijams saved Virginia's opening attempt from Maggie Cagle, but the Cavaliers steadied their nerves afterward. Lia Godfrey, Jordyn Hardeman, Cecil (twice), and Halpern all converted for Virginia. Washington answered through Menti, Alex Buck (twice), Julia Hüsch, Shell, and Lucy Newlin, forcing sudden death before Virginia ultimately prevailed.
Statistically, Virginia held a commanding 27-5 advantage in total shots, though Washington's three saves matched the Cavaliers' two. The corner kick battle favored the Huskies 13-3, reflecting their effective set-piece delivery despite spending much of the match defending. Both goalkeepers performed heroically through 110 minutes before the lottery of penalties settled the contest.