ASHLAND, Ohio – The Drury Panthers, appearing in their first national tournament since 2007, advanced to the second round of the NCAA-II Tournament with a 1-0 win in double-overtime at 15^th ranked Ashland on Thursday afternoon.
 
Chloe Cash scored the game-winner in the game's 105^th minute. Halley Kemmer found Cash on the left side of the Ashland net after a Drury throw-in, and the senior from Nixa fired a shot past Eagles goalkeeper Bri Rogers to send Drury to the second round.
 
The goal was the fifth of the year for Cash, her fourth game-winner of the season, and her second game-winner in the postseason. Cash converted a penalty in overtime in the Great Lakes Valley Conference semifinals last week to get Drury past Missouri S&T 1-0 and into the league championship game. 
 
The Panthers, seeded seventh in the Midwest Region, advance with a record of 16-4-1. Ashland, the two number two seed and hosting the opening two rounds of the tournament, ends their season with a 15-2-3 mark. The loss was the first of the year for Eagles goalie Bri Rogers.
 
"We told our team before the game that we definitely deserved to be here," said Drury head coach Justin Olson. "We won a conference tournament championship to get here, and now we just take it one game at a time.
 
"In overtime, you want to try to put the ball in dangerous areas," said Olson. "Halley showed the experience and progress she's made since freshman year last season and found Chloe one-on-one with a great cross. And then Chloe came up big for us."
 
The game was scoreless at halftime, with the Eagles owning a 4-3 advantage on shots, although neither team put a shot on goal. Drury raised the pressure in the second half, though, as they outshot Ashland 8-5 and forced Rogers to make four saves.
 
After 10 scoreless minutes of a first overtime, Cash ended the contest with the first shot from either team in the second extra period. The Panthers ended the game with a 13-11 shot advantage.
 
Kaitlin Knetzke got the win in goal for Drury and raised her record to 15-4-1. The junior from Ozark (Springfield Catholic HS) made three saves, and she set a program record with her 14^th shutout of the season.
 
The Panthers will play sixth-seeded Saginaw Valley State in the NCAA-II Tournament's second round on Saturday at 11 am (Central), in Ashland, Ohio. The Cardinals got past third-seeded Ferris State on Thursday by penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie through two overtimes.
 
NCAA-II Midwest Regional Quarterfinals
In Ashland, Ohio
#7 DRURY 1  #2 Ashland 0 (2OT)
#6 Saginaw Valley St. 0 #3 Ferris St. 0 (2OT, SVSU wins on PK's 3-0)
In Allendale, Mich.
#5 Indianapolis 3  #4 McKendree 2
#1 Grand Valley St. 2  #8 Cedarville 1
 
NCAA-II Midwest Regional Semifinals
In Ashland, Ohio
#7 DRURY vs #6 Saginaw Valley St., 11 am (Central)
In Allendale, Mich.
#5 Indianapolis at #1 Grand Valley St., 10 am (Central)
 
 
 
#allweDUiswin