ALEXANDRIA, LA – Alexia Bermejo Jo sent the four-seeded Louisiana State University of Alexandria women's soccer team through to the semifinal with a penalty kick in the second overtime period for a 3-2 win over five-seeded Texas A&M-Texarkana.
 
"Don't really know how to catch my breath after that one," LSUA Head Coach Mark Hammond said afterward. "I think we got away with it, we survived another day to be honest. We didn't showcase who we truly are or play to the best of our ability. Like I told the girls at halftime, good teams grind out wins and we had to grind out a win today."
 
The Eagles (12-5-2) scored the game's opening goal after laying siege to their attacking third in the first 25 minutes. The Eagles generated two corners, five shots which missed the net, and a chance from Desiree Narvaez that Yanira Herraez turned away.
 
Narvaez won possession on a counterattack, dribbled around the Generals' (11-7-1) keeper, and ripped a shot off the crossbar and over the line in the 25^th minute.
 
The Generals' first chance on goal came under a minute earlier. Sara Escribano Garcia-Miguel was denied by Layla Anaya.
 
LSUA struck back in the 36^th minute. Sacha Backus laid a corner inside the six where it proceeded to rattle off bodies and legs before Ariana Lowenstein managed to redirect it over the line.
 

 
Just four minutes later, the Generals struck again. Justice Richardson found Sacha Backus alone outside the 18. Backus turned and fired a long range shot past the keeper for a 2-1 lead.
 

 
Bermejo had a headed chance in the 42^nd minute, but Anaya was there for the stop.
 
Less than a minute into the second half, Texarkana equalized. Brooklyn Lattier broke free from a defender just outside the box and lifted her shot over the keeper to level the score at 2-2.
 
Escribano and Bermejo both had shots turned away by Anaya later in the second half, but it was Texarkana who nearly put away a go-ahead goal with a pair of chances late.
 
The first came on a shot from Lattier in the 87^th, which was handled by Herraez. Just over a minute later, the Eagles were on the doorstep again. Narvaez managed to get around the keeper but couldn't fully possess the ball. She directed goalward but a diving effort from Saige Kirkbride swept the ball off the line and kept the scoreline even.
 
The first overtime period came and went with just one shot, a header sent wide by Audrian Cruz.
 
A red card just under three minutes into the second overtime period put the Eagles down to 10-players. A minute later, Nelly Dallmann sent a corner kick into the 18 and Kirkbride drew a foul inside the box to setup a penalty kick.
 
Bermejo converted the penalty for her 13^th goal of the season and sent the Generals through to the semifinal in Texarkana.