INDIANAPOLIS - In a battle among two of the Crossroads League's best, extra time and a penalty shootout were needed Wednesday night to determine the league tournament victor, with No. 14 Grace advancing on penalties over No. 2 Marian. The match went through full time and two overtime periods, with Grace claiming the tournament championship in a 6-5 shootout following 110 minutes with a 1-1 score. Marian will enter the NAIA Tournament with an 18-0-2 overall record.

Marian held the upper hand throughout much of Wednesday's championship match, establishing strings of possession throughout the first half, while taking two shots on target in the period. The Knights built a chance around the 15-minute mark, and in the 27th minute, Marian took their first shot of the match, with Olivia Parmer firing a close look on goal off a Kiley Jones corner kick. The set piece looked to cross the goalline and give the Knights an early lead, but the officials ruled no goal on the field, keeping the deadlock in place. Marian would take one final shot in the 45th minute of the match, as Jones again sent a corner to the box, but the header taken by Marian Corro Celma ended in the hands of keeper Ivy Cline, with the match heading to intermission at a 0-0 score.

The Knights regrouped after halftime, and went on the offensive early, with Parmer ripping a shot in the fifth minute of the half. Marian controlled possession with corners from Jones, one of which resulted in a header attempt for Erin Kelly that sailed over the crossbar. An Allie Tredway shot in the 53rd minute closed a chapter of strong offense, but the Knights would come fighting back.

In the 61st minute, Sienna Mullen took an open look on the goal, but clanged her shot off the left post. Staying with the play, Olivia Parmer managed to control the carrom and played through three defenders before firing home an open look on net, logging her 10th goal of the season. Parmer's shot gave Marian a 1-0 lead with 29:49 to play in regulation.

Marian's good fortune lasted just nine minutes and two seconds, as Grace went on the aggressive approach following the goal. A Cassidy Felger shot missed high in the 63rd minute, while in the 70th minute, a foul rewarded the Lancers with a free kick, which Rosalie Gefrorer was able to sail in for a goal over Lily Ames. Gefrorer's goal leveled the match 1-1.

The Knights kept clawing for chances in the final moments of the half, but were only able to manage one shot attempt, with Tredway drilling the post on an 88th mintue look. With no additional scoring, the match would head to overtime, the first for Marian since an October 30, 2021, match with Indiana Wesleyan.

Grace would take the lone shot attempt in the first bonus session, getting a look from Nora Pollack in the 93rd minute, but the shot was saved by Lily Ames. Neither team would take a shot attempt in the second overtime, sending the game to a penalty shootout, the first for Marian since the 2019 NAIA National Semifinal match against William Carey.

The Lancers had the first shot in penalties, and made their first one against Cassidy Nowlan, but Kiley Jones would follow with a make to level the kicks. Madelief Lowik missed in round two for Grace, while Katie Koger drained her shot, giving Marian an edge. Both teams would make their penalty in the third round, but in the fourth, Silvia Quezada came up empty, as the Lancers' make would tie the penalties 3-3. Both sides made their shots in the fifth round, and in the sixth, Cassidy Felger and Sophia Lewis matched again.

In the seventh round with the penalty score tied 5-5, Zoe Mueller was able to lead the round with a good shot. Turning to Marian, Kylie Conrad was unable to convert and extend the shootout, allowing Grace to advance on penalties 6-5.

Parmer scored Marian's lone goal of the match, taking a team-best three shot attempts in the draw. Lily Ames recorded her second draw of the year in goal, making one save while allowing one goal. The Knights held an 8-3 shot advantage in the match, while taking six corner kicks to Grace's zero. 

The Knights will now turn their sights on the next two days, with the All-Crossroads League Teams to be announced on Thursday, while the NAIA Selection Show will be Friday night. The NAIA Selection Show will air at 7:00 p.m. and will be shown on the NAIA YouTube channel.

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