TMU Needs PKs to Claim Women's Soccer Tournament Title

CLEVELAND, Ga. - A hundred and 10 minutes were not enough to decide a winner, so top-seeded Truett McConnell used a penalty shootout to win the 2024 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Women's Soccer Tournament championship on Saturday.

As the top-seeded team, Truett McConnell hosted the title match.

Truett McConnell and No. 2 Tennessee Wesleyan went undefeated in conference play this year as the squads went 12-0-1. The two squads played to a 2-2 draw on Sept. 14 in Athens, Tenn., and on Saturday they were knotted at 1-all following regulation and two overtime periods, forcing the match to be decided by a penalty shootout. Tennessee Wesleyan missed its first attempt, and Megan Darden stepped up to the spot for Truett McConnell with the shootout even at 4-4. Darden buried her attempt to give Truett McConnell the 5-4 shootout win and the tournament championship.

Tennessee Wesleyan seized the early lead when Krista Eik Hardardottir scored off a free kick in the 20th minute. Truett McConnell equalized in the 40th minute, with Darden finding the back of the net.

Emelie Taylor came up big for Truett McConnell in the second half and overtime, recording five saves during the final 65 minutes. Truett McConnell did not have a shot on goal in the second half, but Tennessee Wesleyan's Laia Roch Font made two saves in the first overtime period and added another in the second extended period.

Brianna Hernadez of Truett McConnell was named the Tournament MVP. Joining her on the All-Tournament Team are Eliska Dvorakova, Lindsey Fowler, and Ashley Johnson of Truett McConnell; Eik Hardardottir, Natascha Frei, and Lauryn Smith of Tennessee Wesleyan; Marta Vicente-Arche and Reagan Horton of Reinhardt; and Amber McCleskey and Kara McDaniel of Milligan.

Truett McConnell received an automatic berth to the NAIA National Championship Tournament as the regular-season champion, so Tennessee Wesleyan receives the conference's second automatic berth.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Oct. 30 (at the higher seed's home site)
Game 1 - No. 7 Columbia (11-7-0) def. No. 10 Brenau (5-9-3), 1-0 (box)
Game 2 - No. 8 Pikeville (9-6-3) tied No. 9 Union Commonwealth (7-7-4), 0-0 (2OT) (Pikeville advanced on PKs, 4-3) (box)

Saturday, Nov. 2 (at the higher seed's home site)
Game 3 - No. 1 Truett McConnell (15-1-2) def. No. 8 Pikeville (9-7-3), 4-0 (box)
Game 4 - No. 2 Tennessee Wesleyan (13-1-2) def. No. 7 Columbia (11-8-0), 3-1 (box)
Game 5 - No. 3 Reinhardt (10-5-1) def. No. 6 Columbia International (8-8-0), 2-1 (box)
Game 6 - No. 4 Milligan (10-6-2) def. No. 5 Johnson (8-3-6), 1-0 (box)

Tuesday, Nov. 5 (at the higher seed's home site)
Game 7 - No. 1 Truett McConnell (16-1-2) def. No. 4 Milligan (10-7-2), 5-0 (box)
Game 8 - No. 2 Tennessee Wesleyan (14-1-2) def. No. 3 Reinhardt (10-6-1), 2-1 (box)

Saturday, Nov. 9 - Championship Game (at the higher seed's home site)
Game 9 - No. 1 Truett McConnell (16-1-3) tied No. 2 Tennessee Wesleyan (14-1-3), 1-1 (2OT) (Truett wins the championship on PKs, 5-4) (box)