FOLEY, Ala. - Second-seeded Little Rock advanced to the semifinal round after battling No. 7 Arkansas State to a 1-1 draw after two overtime periods and then prevailing in the penalty shootout, 4-3. Sara Johannsdottir made two clutch saves in the shootout to send Little Rock to the semifinals of the Sun Belt tournament for the second consecutive season.

The Trojans (12-4-3) struggled to find a rhythm in the first half as they were forced to play against the gusting winds at the field. Little Rock nearly scored, in the 12th minute when Morgan Smocovich delivered a dangerous ball from just outside the penalty area. The ball bounced around the box and was cleared off the line before a Trojan attacker could provide a scoring touch. The Red Wolves capitalized on the confusion and started a counterattack that would create the opening goal. Johannsdottir saved the initial shot from Sarah Sodoma but Hailey Furio was there to tap in the rebound and give the Red Wolves team a 1-0 advantage.

Little Rock would come out strong in the second half and dominate possession for majority of the second 45 minutes. A barrage of shots on goal led to corner kick in the 58th minute. Smocovich whipped in a beautiful cross and Liesa Seifert used her height to rise up to head the ball into the back of the net to get back on level terms and make the score 1-1.

Jaclyn Purvine had a chance to give the Trojans the win in regular time but her long range effort in the dying seconds was denied by Red Wolves goalkeeper Kelsey Ponder.

The game would head to a penalty shootout, the winner heading to the semifinal round. Seifert stepped up for the first penalty and calmly slotted it home before Johannsdottir saved the first Arkansas State penalty to give the Trojans the edge.

A Little Rock miss from the spot and a Red Wolves conversion leveled the score of the shootout, but Arola Aparicio Gili scored on the next penalty. ASU leveled the score once again but the Trojans gained the advantage yet again on the third attempt. With another Arkansas State conversion and composed finish from Nora Hellmers, all Little Rock had to do was save one more penalty to earn a spot in the next round. Johannsdottir did just that as the freshman saved the last penalty to send her team through.

The win advances the Trojans to the semifinals where they will take on the winner of the Coastal Carolina/Georgia State match.