FORT MYERS, Fla. – Freshman forward Ana Manning scores the game-winning goal in overtime to clinch the 2-1 win for EKU women's soccer over top-seeded FGCU in the 2024 Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament semifinals on Thursday night at the FGCU Soccer Complex.
 
With the win, EKU (12-7-3, 7-3-1 ASUN) advances to the ASUN Championship to face No. 3 seed Lipscomb on Sunday afternoon in Fort Myers after taking down the ASUN Regular Season Champion FGCU.  
 
EKU was the only ASUN Conference team to defeat FGCU (11-6-2, 9-1-1 ASUN) this season, snapping the defending back-to-back conference champions chance at a three-peat on their home pitch.
 
Sunday's match marks the first conference championship appearance for the Colonels since 2017 and first appearance as a member of the ASUN Conference.
 
Manning's goal was the sixth of her career and first career goal in postseason play. Fellow freshman forward Ella Grode also scored in the contest, doing so in the 53rd minute to equalize the match at 1-1.  Grode led the Colonels on Thursday with six shot attempts, striking four on target.
 
EKU logged three assists in Thursday's match from three different student-athletes in Chiara Premoli, Rachel Robinson, and Paula Herranz.  Senior forward Tiatianna Jones had a goal waved off by the referees after video review late in the first half.
 
Premoli increases her assist total this season to seven in the win and eight in her career.  The Broni, Italy native's seven assists this year are the most recorded by a player in a single season in program history, she is now also tied for third in school history in assists, just five behind current teammate Gretta Gunn.
 
Senior goalkeeper Marah Krick earned the 20th win of her career in Thursday's win, logging six saves in 98 minutes of play.
 
The first 30 minutes of Thursday's semifinals match was heavily contested by EKU and FGCU.  The Eagles struck first in the 34th minute as ASUN All-Conference midfielder Erike Zschuppe struck an unassisted ball in the back of the netting off her right foot.
 
The Colonels went into the halftime break down 1-0 and maintained a steady pace with the Eagles only being out-shot by one in the first period of play.  Jones neared a goal late in the first half that was waved off after video review of the play.
 
Out of the break, EKU flipped the script, and the rest of the contest was all Colonels.  Grode scored the equalizing goal in the 53rd minute off a pass from Herranz and Robinson that would force overtime at the end of the 90-minute regulation.
 
In overtime, EKU and FGCU logged four actions in the period before Manning caught a pass from Premoli and used her head to send a shot past ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year, Olivia Molina, for the victory.
 
EKU out-shot the Eagles 15-14 and 8-7 in shots on goal, the Colonels also out-gained FGCU 4-3 in corner kicks.
 
The Colonels return to action on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET in the ASUN Championship against No. 3 seed Lipscomb in Fort Myers.  Fans can purchase tickets online here and the match can be streamed live on ESPN+ beginning five minutes prior to kickoff.