ELITE EIGHT BOUND! Bulldogs Win Midwest Regional Championship, Freeze Reigning National Champions In PK's

Postgame Highlights & Comments - Coach Henson 
Postgame Comments - Mosallaei 

Bemidji, Minn. - For the first time in school history, the Ferris State University women's soccer team claimed an NCAA Regional Championship. The Bulldogs will also play in their first-ever NCAA Division II Elite Eight, after advancing on penalty kicks (3-1) over the reigning national champion Grand Valley State Lakers on Friday (Nov. 18) at Chet Anderson Stadium in Bemidji, Minn., following a 0-0 double overtime tie.

The teams played 110 minutes of a scoreless draw in the Midwest Regional Championship game, though Ferris State hit three goal posts, while FSU sophomore goalkeeper Darya Mosallaei made several key stops to keep it that way.

With the score locked at 0-0, the teams moved to penalty kicks, where Mosallaei again stepped into the spotlight. The Lakers scored their first penalty kick try, but Mosallaei made diving saves in the second and fourth rounds, with GVSU hitting the goal post in the third round. The Bulldogs capitalized when senior Isabella Zamborini scored in the first round, followed by senior Nikki May in the third. 

With the Bulldogs up 2-1 in the fourth round of PK's, Ferris State sent freshman back Ella Wolf to the line. Wolf shot left and buried her chance, sinking the defending national champion Lakers 3-1 in penalty kicks.

In the effort, Mosallaei tied Ferris State's all-time school career shutouts record, posting her 19th career blanking, tying Rachel McCollum's record. Mosallaei made a career-high 11 saves, including five in the 20 minutes of overtime.

The Lakers held a 20-15 edge in total shots, with an 11-3 shots on goal advantage. Ferris State outshot Grand Valley in the first overtime and was only outshot by one in the second half and two in the first.

Ferris State was led in shots by Zamborini's eight, while no Laker player had more than four. An intense battle in well-below-freezing conditions, the game featured 30 fouls and three yellow cards.

Ferris State will bring home its first-ever NCAA Women's Soccer Trophy with the victory, claiming the Bulldogs' first-ever regional title. The Bulldogs will play the winner of host Bemidji State versus Emporia State in the national quarterfinals on Sunday (Nov. 20) in Bemidji, Minn.