SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Cal Lutheran women's soccer (17-3-2, 9-2-1 SCIAC) defeated Trinity (14-2-4, 5-0-2 SAA) in dramatic fashion in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 on Sunday afternoon. After the match headed to sudden-death overtime tied 1-1, Keira Hazard took a corner kick and improbably placed the ball over the outstretched goalkeeper to send the Regals to the Sweet 16.

Last year, the Regals were coming off a national championship when they were defeated by Trinity in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament by a score of 1-0.

In yesterday's matchups, Trinity defeated Hardin-Simmons 2-0 and Cal Lutheran defeated McMurry 3-0. Cal Lutheran (#13) was ranked slightly higher than Trinity (#17) in the NCAA NPI.

The Tigers managed to get on the scoreboard first as they converted in the 22nd minute.

Late in the 42nd minute, Trinity gave Cal Lutheran possession deep in its own territory, and Jessica Sprouse headed the ball towards Elena Baltazar, who sent a beautiful one-touch pass to a cutting Atiana Santoyo. It took the freshman, playing in just her 11th career game, one touch to power the ball past the diving keeper and into the back of the net. Santoyo's equalizer was not only the first goal of her collegiate career, but it was the first shot attempt she's ever taken.

The match would remain 1-1 going into halftime.

In the 65th minute, Cal Lutheran goalie Kelsey Slaugh collided with a Tigers' attacker, resulting in her being pulled from the game. Slaugh finished with three saves. With only one other healthy goalkeeper dressed for the game, the Regals were forced to turn to Reagan Keelan, a freshman with just 12 minutes of prior game experience, in the biggest moment of the most important game of the season to date.

Keelan did an outstanding job after being thrust into a high-pressure situation, recording a huge save in the 88th minute. A few late attempts by Trinity barely missed, including a powerful shot off the crossbar in the final seconds of regulation. The Regals were able to hold on and send the game to overtime.

In the NCAA Tournament, overtime is played as a golden goal format, meaning that there are two 10-minute periods, and both are sudden-death. The match would advance to penalty kicks if neither team scores in the two periods.

Cal Lutheran immediately put pressure on the Tigers, with Anna Evenson taking a shot on goal in the first minute of extra time. The Regals were able to create a corner-kick opportunity in the 91st minute, and Hazard lined it up. The sophomore sent it in off her left foot, and she put the perfect spin on the ball that allowed it to curve over the heads of everyone in the box and into the net. The Cal Lutheran sideline exploded and rushed the field to celebrate Hazard's heroics, as her fourth goal of the season brought the Regals to their second Sweet 16 in three years.

Cal Lutheran will now head home for a few short days of rest before traveling to Chicago for its next match. The Regals will face off against the host-school, University of Chicago, on Saturday morning at 11am central time.

The other two teams joining the festivities in the Windy City will be Swarthmore and Carleton, who will battle in the second match on Saturday. The winners of both games will play at UChicago on Sunday afternoon at 1pm central time.