OMAHA, Neb. — Record-breaking almost isn't enough to describe the 2019 Rocky Mountain College women's soccer team anymore.
After playing to a scoreless draw through regulation and two overtime periods, the Battlin' Bears beat No. 12 Midland University 3-2 in penalty kicks Saturday in the second round of the NAIA Women's Soccer Championships to advance to the final 16-team tournament.
Rocky keeper Maia Wetzel added to her already program-record with her 14th shutout of the season, and came up especially big in PK's as Midland made just two of five kicks. Wetzel also helped herself by converting Rocky's first penalty kick.
Mhari Smith and Haley Nicholson also scored in the shootout for the Bears.
The win was Rocky's 15th of the season, breaking the program record set in 2008 and 2012. '08 was the only other time the Bears qualified for the National Championships, but that season ended with a 1-0 double OT loss in the first round.
Rocky now advances to a 16-team bracketed tournament to decide the NAIA National Champion, set for Dec. 2-7 in Orange Beach, Ala. Their next opponent is still to be determined.
