On Wednesday, Nov. 3, the Elizabethtown College women’s soccer team traveled to Selinsgrove, Pa., where they outlasted Susquehanna University in a penalty shootout Wednesday night in the Landmark Conference Semifinal.

The game was tied 2-2 after the regulation time was up. The Blue Jays beat the River Hawks 8-7 in penalties to advance to their first-ever Landmark Championship.

Susquehanna got on the board first in the 23rd minute of the game on senior Anna Werner’s goal to put the River Hawks ahead 1-0. Susquehanna held the Blue Jays scoreless through the first 45 minutes to keep the one-goal lead going into halftime.

Less than two minutes after junior Trinity Soto’s save on senior Samantha Chillis, Etown was down at the other end of the field and sophomore Sydney Reich came through to tie the game at 1-1 in the 52nd minute.

15 minutes later, the Blue Jays grabbed the lead.

After assisting on Reich’s sixth goal of the season, sophomore Maddie McWhinney produced the second goal of the game for Etown. Senior Erika Antunes delivered a corner kick right onto the foot of McWhinney and her one-touch effort sailed over the goalie’s hands and into the net making the score 1-2.

Susquehanna was right back in it less than two minutes later as they scored again and knotted the game at 2-2.

The Blue Jays’ defense held firm and Soto only needed to make one save over the final 20 minutes as both of the teams needed overtime.

The River Hawks outshot the Jays 4-2 through both overtimes, but neither side scored so it was then down to penalty kicks.

Etown shot first and converted on their first three. A missed shot at four and a Susquehanna goal put the season on the line, but the Blue Jays converted on the fifth and Soto came up huge with a save to keep the shootout going.

A second five minutes was needed and it was just as thrilling as the first overtime. The sixth shooters for both teams made their attempts, though an Etown miss at seven once again gave Susquehanna a chance to advance. However, the River Hawks missed as things continued on.

The Blue Jays’ eighth, ninth and tenth shooters each saw their kicks reach the back of the net as they were still shooting first. On Susquehanna’s 10th try, which was needed to match Etown’s make, the ball went really far to the left to send Etown off to the Landmark Championships, 8-7, on penalty kicks.

The Blue Jays will take on the top-seeded Royals at Scranton University in Scranton, Pa. on Saturday, Nov. 6 at 5 p.m.