COLUMBUS, Ga. – The University of North Georgia (UNG) women's soccer team fell in heartbreaking fashion in the semifinals of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament at the hands of third-seeded Flagler Friday night. 

In a thrilling game that ended at a 2-2 draw in regulation, neither team was able to score in the 20 total minutes of overtime. The Saints outlasted UNG 4-3 in penalty kicks to advance to the PBC Tournament Championship.

Now the Nighthawks will await word from the NCAA selection committee. The Selection Show is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. live on ncaa.com. In the final regional rankings of the season, UNG was slotted as the No. 4 team in the Southeast Region which earned eight bids to the postseason last year.

Friday's semifinal matchup started off on the right note for the Nighthawks. Thanks to goals from PBC All-Conference Second Team selection Darby Olive and freshman forward Sam Cottle, UNG held a 2-0 lead after 41 minutes of play. 

Flagler would tie the game on a pair of goals including a penalty kick from forward Andrea Fernandez in the 50th and 57th minutes. 

As the game trudged into overtime, the Nighthawks had confidence and bolstered numerous chances to end the game with a golden goal. UNG did not allow a single shot from Flagler in either overtime period, while totaling seven shots of its own in the 20 minutes of additional time.

Unable to break through, the game would be decided by penalty kicks. 

Senior goalkeeper Sierra Fowler started things off with a huge save against Fernandez on the first penalty shot. Fernandez, the 2024 PBC Offensive Player of the Year, entered the game leading the nation with 20 goals on the season. 

Fowler's snuff of Fernandez opened the door for sophomore Grace McGil who buried her shot to give UNG a 1-0 lead. 

Then against Flagler's second-leading scorer Paige Churchill, Fowler made yet another diving save. The senior keeper the turned around and buried a goal of her own, putting the Nighthawks in front 2-0. 

Still it was not over yet. Flagler would finally score off the foot of Cisel Akguel to make it 2-1. On the ensuing attempt from the Nighthawks, Saints goalkeeper Henley Grunst saved a shot from junior midfielder Adleigh Wheeler to keep the score where it was. 

Samantha St. Pierre would score on the following attempt for Flagler, making it 2-2. 

Still UNG held control as senior midfielder Meghan O'Brien drilled the ball into the upper left corner of the net to score the third PK goal for the Nighthawks. 

A save on the next Flagler shot would've sent UNG into the conference championship. Instead, Ella Gembicki scored to keep the Saints' hopes alive. 

At 3-3, UNG needed a goal on its fifth attempt to seal the deal. Yet, Grunst made another impressive save, stopping the shot from Cottle to advance to the extra rounds of penalty kicks. 

From there, Grace Simon quickly scored for the Saints to give them their first lead of the shootout 4-3. 

Needing a goal from Olive to remain alive, UNG was stunned as Grunst made one more diving stop to save the attempt and end the game. 

Flagler will now play in the PBC Championship against No. 2 Columbus State on Sunday. 

UNG sits at 11-3-3 on the season and will await word from the selection committee on Monday.