Lenoir-Rhyne Advances to First Final Four In Program History

PENSACOLA, Fla. - For the first time in program history, the Lenoir-Rhyne women's soccer team is headed to the Final Four. The No. 7 seed Bears defeated the No. 5 seed Florida Tech Panthers in the Elite Eight in penalty kicks to give LR its first trip to the Final Four. The 2021 Bears avenge a loss by the 2010 LR team to Florida Tech in the Elite Eight in penalty kicks. Kara Gavaghan scored the game-tying goal in the 63rd minute off an assist from Neve Duston, and Grayson Cameron made four saves in regulation and stopped three different Panthers during the penalty kicks to secure the win for Lenoir-Rhyne. 

"I am filled with an immense amount of pride," said head coach Gary Higgins. "We have beaten some really, really good teams to get here. The girls have done everything we've asked of them and more. We are making history. We talked to them about the 2010 team that really set the tone for the modern era of LR soccer and how we had to play for them, and we did that today. To be able to fight back after falling behind and to come through in the biggest moments, it really says everything about these girls."

Senior goalkeeper Grayson Cameron has led a defense that conceded only two goals in the four NCAA Tournament wins, and she has also been clutch during penalty kicks. 

"It's all about my teammates putting me in a position to succeed," she said. "We have played such good team soccer these past few games, and it feels great to be able to be where we are right now. Couldn't be happier."

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 1, Florida Tech 1 (LR advances 4-3 in penalty kicks)
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (12-5-5), Florida Tech (10-3-9)
Location: Pensacola, Fla. | UWF Soccer Complex

STATS OF THE MATCH

• The Bears were only able to muster five shots in the game, three of which were on goal. Florida Tech had 13 shots, five of which were on goal.
• The Panthers opened the scoring in the 56th minute on a goal from Alexis Sheely that deflected off the goalpost and in. 
• The Bears were able to answer just seven minutes later, as Gavaghan buried a shot off a beautifull set piece delivery from Duston. 
• Lenoir-Rhyne did not attempt a corner kick in the game. Florida Tech had four. 
• In the penalty kick round, Leonie Proessl, Madi Kyle, Scarlett Kelly and Evan O'Leary were successful for the Bears. Had Kelly missed her attempt, the Bears would've lost the game. 
• With the game on the line before Kelly's PK attempt, Cameron stopped Florida Tech's Kate Frazier to keep the game alive. 
• O'Leary's game-winner was her first PK attempt in the NCAA Tournament. 
• Proessl and Kyle are both 3-for-3 in PKs in the Tournament. 

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• This is the first time in program history that Lenoir-Rhyne has advanced to the Final Four. 
• All of the remaning teams are No. 1 seeds. The Bears defeated the number 2, 3, and 4 seeds in the Southeast Region to advance to this game, and then defeated 5-seed Florida Tech, the champions of the South Region. 
• With this game officially ending in a tie, Florida Tech tied the NCAA record in any level and gender for ties in a season with nine. 
• Three out of the four NCAA Tournament victories for Lenoir-Rhyne have come in penalty kicks. LR now holds a 4-3 record in the Tournament in penalty kicks. 
• Gavaghan's goal was her fifth of the year and third of the NCAA Tournament. She also scored both goals in LR's 2-0 victory over Queens in the second round. The sophomore rom La Crosse, Wisconsin has scored the game-tying or game-winning goals all five times she's found the back of the net this season. 

UP NEXT: The Bears advance to the Final Four in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They are the No. 4 seed and will take on the No. 1 seed Grand Valley State Lakers at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs on Thursday (12/9) at 1 p.m. EST.