Meghan Wiles helped Grace defeat St. Francis Saturday at home in a semifinal match of the conference tournament (Photo provided by the Grace College Sports Information Department)

WINONA LAKE – The storybook 2014 season for the Grace College women’s soccer team continued with one of the more memorable games of the fall.

The Lady Lancers scored the go-ahead goal with 20 seconds on the clock in regulation, endured an improbable equalizer seven seconds later, then recovered to advance in a penalty shootout against St. Francis on Saturday.

As a result, Grace will travel to top-seeded Spring Arbor on Nov. 15 in the championship game of the Crossroads League Tournament.

“It’s enjoyable to win that kind of match in front of Lancer Nation. I’m proud of the women for staying the course through this one. Our long-term work came through,” said Grace head coach Michael Voss. “USF had a good game plan to close out space which gave us difficulties at moments. There is so much redemptive potential with this group. I’m excited for the day that we will play 90 at that limit. I’m proud of Abby [Schue] for coming through in the end.”

The Lady Lancers (13-3-3) seemed to have the better of the Cougars (11-7-2) for much of the match in terms of possession and shots. Grace outshot St. Francis 19-6 overall in the match, but neither of the goals came until the 90th minute.

Meredith Hollar finished off an assist from Mallory Rondeau with just 20 seconds on the clock, chipping over the goalkeeper from close range to send the enthused Miller Field crowd into bedlam. Grace’s excitement was short-lived, however.

St. Francis responded with the next kick of the match, sending a high kick off the restart towards Grace’s net, and goalkeeper Abby Schue slipped to the ground to allow the bouncing ball to roll into the net for the equalizer with 13 seconds remaining. The match went into overtime tied 1-1.

The Lady Lancers rebounded nobly in the overtime periods, dominating the final two overtime periods. Grace outshot St. Francis 5-0 in overtime, but the hosts were unable to find the winner.

Schue found redemption in the penalty shootout. After getting a glove on the Cougars’ second attempt, Schue saved the third kick. Grace’s kickers took care of the rest as Meredith Matson, Kaitlyn Hayes, Carianne Sobey, Kaitlan Wiles and Mallory Rondeau went a perfect 5-for-5 on PK’s to advance 5-3.

Grace advances to its second league tournament championship game in program history (2012). With a win over archrival Spring Arbor, Grace would earn an automatic bid to the team’s first NAIA Nationals.

Rondeau finished with six shots and three shots on goal to lead all players, and Hollar had four shots.