GREENSBORO, N.C. --- The Chattanooga women's soccer team fell 4-2 on penalty kicks to end its season Sunday evening at UNCG in Southern Conference Tournament action. After a late goal by the Mocs to tie the match at 1-1, neither team could score in either overtime period and the quarterfinal match was decided on PKs.
 
"We are disappointed to not be advancing on in the tournament, but our team can hold their heads high," head coach Gavin McKinney said. "To equalize late on and lose it in penalties is heartbreaking. The girls fought as hard as they could. They have been an amazing group to work with this season."
 
It came down to the PKs after 110 minutes. Hollie Massey and Chloe Arnold were able to get their shots into the net for the Mocs but the Spartans would connect on all four of their attempts to seal the victory and earn a pass to the semifinal round next weekend.
 
The Spartans led for most of the game after scoring in the 42^nd minute, but the Mocs would spoil the victory in the final moments. Chattanooga's Osa Iyare took a free kick from 35 yards out in the 90^th minute and floated a shot over the crowd in the box, past UNCG keeper Abby Buchholz to tie the match 1-1, forcing overtime.
 
Only one shot was on goal by either team in the overtime periods and Chattanooga keeper Ashton Shields made a game-saving grab in the first extra period. In the second OT, the Mocs had a corner kick but it was cleared out by the Spartans.
 
Shields faced 23 shots in the match and had 11 saves, second most this season. The Mocs were outshot 23-15 with a 12-8 shots on goal advantage by the Spartans. Iyare played 98 of the 110 minutes and had six shots on the night with four on goal. Hollie Massey and Mackenzie Smith launched three toward the goal and Bailey Gale added two shots in the effort.
 
Sophie Stewart-Hobbs put the Spartans on the board first with her first goal of the year just moments after she was substituted into the game. In a scramble for the ball in the box, Stewart-Hobbs was able to pick up the ball and send it into the back of the net to give UNCG the lead in the 42^nd minute.
 
Gabi Santora matched Iyare on shots in the game with six and had two on goal. Cienna Rideout, the Spartans leading scorer had five shots with just one finding its way toward the goal. All three of Nicole Souply's shots were on goal but none got past Shields who scooped them all.
 
UNCG moves to 10-7-2 overall and will take on #2 Furman Friday at 6:30 p.m. in their own stadium.
 
Chattanooga closes the year at 9-6-4 overall and was 4-4-1 in SoCon play. The Mocs set school record for shutouts (9), goals-against average (0.75) and goals allowed (15). Shields matched her season best for shutouts with six and Abbey Saddler set a school record with a 0.46 goals-against average.
 
The Mocs will lose four seniors from this season's squad. Anna Rogers missed the season after a preseason injury sidelined her. She and Molli Miller provided leadership from the sideline while Jordan Mueller and Bailey Gale aided the Mocs on the field.
 
"Anna, Jo, Bailey, and Molli have been instrumental in driving the program forward in a positive direction," McKinney said. "I am extremely proud to have coached them and I am very grateful for all they have given us. They will be missed."