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Utah keeper Ashley Mason came up big for Utah in the shootout against UNLV.
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Nov. 6, 2003
SALT LAKE CITY-The top-seeded Utah Utes advanced to their first MWC title match tonight after defeating the fifth-seeded UNLV Rebels in a tiebreaking shootout, 6-5, in the semifinals of the 2003 Mountain West Conference Women's Soccer Championship at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The match is recorded a draw, but the Utes advance to the championship match by winning the shootout. The shootout was the first ever in MWC Championship history.
The Utes and Rebels were deadlocked at 0-0 after regulation. Utah had a clear shot to win the match as time ran out, but all-Mountain West Conference goalkeeper Jenna Huff stopped the attempt and held onto the ball as the time ran out.
The first overtime period went back and forth with no clear advantage. The second extra period went just like the first extra period, with neither team holding the advantage.
In the shootout, the Utes and Rebels were tied at three goals apiece after the mandatory five kicks allowed to each team. According to the NCAA Rule Book, after the mandatory five kicks, the two teams continue to kick alternately until a team has a one goal advantage after the same number of kicks.
In the first round of sudden death kicks, Utah's Bobbie Benegas had her shot blocked by Jenna Huff, then Ashley Mason blocked a shot by UNLV's Jessica Brown to keep the match even. The next shot by Utah junior forward Julie Herdic hit off the foot of a diving Huff and trickled into the net to give Utah the advantage. All-MWC first-teamer Annii Magliulo kept UNLV alive when her shot sailed past Mason into the goal. Utah senior midfielder/defender Esther Imotan was next to shoot for the Utes. Her shot went into the left side of the goal, once again giving Utah the one goal advantage. Freshman midfielder Kim Chock sent the shootout into another round after she scored for the Rebels to even the shootout at five apiece. On the ninth go around for the two teams, Utah junior defender Tracy Stratton's shot got past the outstretched hands of Huff, giving Utah the one-up on UNLV. With the match in the balance, senior defender/midfielder Tania Lee's shot curved to the left of the goal, giving the Utes a 6-5 shootout win.
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Utah will face the Brigham Young on Saturday, Nov. 8, with at noon start time. BYU moved into the championship after defeating New Mexico, 3-2 in the earlier semifinal. The winner of Saturday's match will receive an automatic bid into the 2003 NCAA Women's Cup.
