GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – After earning a hard-fought scoreless draw during 110 minutes of match action against 20^th ranked College of Saint Rose, the Philadelphia University women's soccer team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in its 25-year history, defeating the Golden Knights 2-1 in a penalty kick shootout at Adelphi University

With Philadelphia (10-8-3) trailing 1-0 through two rounds in the shootout, Saint Rose's Silvana Giovannone pushed her shot wide of the right post, leaving the door open for the Rams. Alex Reyes (Vineland, N.J./Vineland) capitalized on the miss by putting her attempt in the upper right corner of the goal to tie the score at one.

Reyes' goal turned the tide of the shootout in the Rams favor as keeper Courtney Shaw (Langhorne, Pa./Villa Joseph Marie) opened the fourth round with a save on the Golden Knight's Eliza Galbiati. Amy Heller (Feasterville, Pa./Neshaminy) put Philadelphia up 2-1 during the Rams' turn in the fourth, making Saint Rose's Bethany Ivens guess while she calmly put the ball in the left half on the net.

On the final shot of the shootout, Shaw came through with a diving save at the right post on Amanda Vasquez to send the Rams to round two.

"The team played very tough and everyone did what they were supposed to do. I can't single out just one player," said head coach George Dunbar. "We knew going in that Saint Rose was a very good team, but we also knew that once it got to PKs that we had the advantage.

"Everyone was extremely disciplined and that was the main factor for us."

Philadelphia is the first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference team to reach the NCAA Tournament's second round.

"It was an unreal feeling once we had figured that out. We didn't know until the game was over," said Shaw. "We aren't satisfied and want to keep going. We feel we can do that."

Saint Rose (15-3-4) was in control during the run of play as it owned a 32-1 shot advantage and took eight corners. In regulation, the Golden Knights—who averaged 2.57 goals per game—attempted 26 shots, 13 in each half. Saint Rose took two in the 10-minute overtime and four more in the second.

Shaw stood tall in the Philadelphia net as she made a career-high 13 saves, seven coming in the second half, to record her ninth shutout and extend the team's shutout streak to 804 minutes, 56 seconds.

"As a team, we all collectively clicked," said Shaw. "We struggled in the beginning [of the season], but now we have a cohesive unit. Everyone is playing for each other and we have a core 11."

Philadelphia will take on host Adelphi in the second round on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. on Motamed Field. It will be the first meeting between the schools since 2011.