NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Cal Lutheran women's soccer is Final Four bound! 

In a match that needed two overtimes and then some to decide a victor, the Regals (18-1-5) took down No. 1 ranked Christopher Newport University (19-0-3) in penalty kicks 4-3 to pull out the first Elite Eight win in program history. 



The two teams played to a standstill in the 1st half, producing almost identical stats on the offensive end. However, the Captains would get on the board just two minutes into the 2nd half, forcing the Regals to play from behind. 

The Regals trailed 1-0 until the 86th minute when Eden Quiroz continued her playoff heroics by scoring off a corner kick to save the Regals' season. Brynn McMahon delivered the assist, and the scoreboard read 1-1 going into overtime. 

Neither team could generate much offense in either overtime. The Captains had the best chance of the two teams, as they threatened with 2 corners in the final 40 seconds. Goalkeeper Kelsey Slaugh and the rest of the Regals made the defensive stand as the final horn sounded with the score still knotted 1-1. 

The Regals now had the opportunity to upset the undefeated Captains in the same fashion as the previous year's Elite Eight, when the Captains lost to penalty kicks in 2022. 
 
The Captains converted on the opening kick, but the Regals would mirror their results for the first 3 rounds of the shootout, converting in the first and third thanks to Quiroz and Ally Fisicaro.

As the fourth round began tied 2-2, Slaugh came up huge and made the save diving to her right. McMahon then converted on her kick to give the Regals a 3-2 advantage. 

In round five, the Captains found the net but it wouldn't matter as Savana Durr scored to seal the game 4-3 and send the Regals to the next round. 
 
With the result, the Regals will continue dancing as they travel to Salem, Va., to face Tufts University (11-5-4) in the Final Four on Thursday, Nov. 30^th.