LaGrange reached the GSAC Tournament championship game for the first time with a 1-0 (4-2) shootout win over top-seeded and nine-time defending champion Maryville on Friday at Panther Field.
It was the second straight shootout win for the Panthers, who defeated Agnes Scott on Tuesday in the first round of the tournament. And for the second straight time, Chelsea Totaro had the deciding shot in the shootout.
Maryville had a 18-7 shot advantage, including a 10-1 shot on goal edge during regulation and overtime. Totaro had 10 saves in goal for the Panthers and had two more in the shootout.
The Panthers best opportunity came in the second half of regulation. Brittany Gray broke free in front of the Maryville goal, only to have her shot stopped by keeper Michelle Foulke.
Totaro made an outstanding save in the second overtime period. Ashely Howarth, the GSAC Player of the Year, came in on the left side and sent a shot toward the corner of the goal. Totaro knocked away the shot to keep the game scoreless.
The two teams swapped goals the first two rounds of the shootout. Angie Forero and Hope Sims made their shots for the Panthers and were answered by Howarth and Lauren Ward for the Lady Scots.
Both teams failed to seize momentum in the third round. Mary Robertson's shot went wide for the Panthers and Alexis Franco sent a shot over the goal for Maryville.
Gray beat Foulke to put the Panthers up 3-2. Following the same script from the Agnes Scott game, Totaro turned away Alex Wingo's shot to set up her game-winning attempt. Totaro clinched the upset with a shot past Foulke for the game-winner.
The Panthers play Piedmont on Saturday at 2 p.m. in their first championship final.
