Broncos Advance to MW Championship Final on Penalty Kick Dramatics

Thursday, November 4

Boise, Idaho

2 p.m. MT

Boise State

11-6-4, 4-4-3

#2 Fresno State (Semifinal)

9-6-4, 7-3-1

Boise St.

Fresno St.

Broncos Advance to MW Championship Final on Penalty Kick Dramatics

11/4/2021 8:15:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

BOISE, Idaho – After upsetting San Diego State in Monday's Mountain West Championship first round match, head coach of Boise State women's soccer, Jim Thomas, had one question: "Are you not entertained?"

The same question could be asked Thursday afternoon as the outcome of the Mountain West Championship semifinal match between Boise State and Fresno State had to be settled in a penalty shootout. Freshman Michaela Justiniani was calm, cool and collected as she walked it off for Boise State, advancing the Broncos to their second-consecutive Mountain West Championship final.

"That was a war of attrition out there. I'm proud of these girls and the staff for what they've gone through to get to this point. I can't help but feel for Fresno State. What a worthy opponent, a fantastic team. It was a great game filled with everything. It's a tough way to end it for anybody, on penalty kicks."

Boise State controlled the tempo in the early stages of the match, but in the 17th minute Fresno State responded with a counter attack that ended in a powerful shot from Kaelyn Miller to open the scoring.

Fifth-year senior Aubree Chatterton provided the response for Boise State in the 28th as she willed her way into the right side of the box and used the perfect combination of power and finesse to deliver a curling ball past the Bulldog keeper into the opposite corner of the goal.

As time wore on the match began to open up as the teams exchanged runs and subsequent stops. Both sides found chances that could have decided the match, but at the end of double overtime the scored remained deadlocked, setting up a penalty kick shootout.

In the best-of-five shootout, both teams remained perfect through the first five shots. Then on the Bulldogs' sixth attempt, senior goalkeeper Sydney Smith made the right read and blocked the shot, sending the Boas crowd into a frenzy. With a spot in the title game on the line, Justiniani looked as calm as ever as she hit a ball that flew just past the arms of the outstretched keeper and into the net to seal the deal.

In addition to making the deciding save, Smith also took the Broncos' second penalty attempt, which she sank with ease.

"The G.O.A.T. comes up big again," said Thomas. "I think you continue to lean on the greatest players to walk on these floors here. I'm thankful to have been the coach for them and I'll be thanking them when my overall record here is done in my coaching career. These moments are what make legends of people, and Sydney got her moment today."

With Thursday's result the Broncos became the first No. 6 seed to advance to the MW Championship final. They square off against the No. 1 seed New Mexico Saturday at noon at Boas Soccer Complex.