BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The No. 11-ranked and No. 1-seed Lindsey Wilson men's soccer team defeated the Bethel (Tenn.) Wildcats 4-2 on penalties as the Blue Raiders advance to the Mid-South Conference tournament championship game for the first time since 2017.

The Blue Raiders (12-2-1, 10-1 MSC), who outshot the Wildcats (13-5-2, 7-4 MSC) 23-10 tonight, had trouble finding a goal in the match against a stubborn Wildcat defense. A combination of both outstanding goalkeeping and sharp defending from the Wildcats forced the game into a double-overtime session before penalty kicks had to determine a winner.

The Wildcats had the early chance in the game as Juan Penagos hit the outside of the left post with a dangerous strike in the 11th minute. However, for the remainder of the half, it was all Lindsey Wilson as the Blue Raiders outshot the Wildcats 10-4 putting three shots on goal but unable to find the opener in the match. The match remained tied at 0-0 as both teams entered the halftime break.

Back into the action, where the first good effort of the second half came from defender Moussa Gueye who took a free kick about 15 yards from goal that was just wide of the net. Moments later, the Wildcats got a good look as Adrian Musubi flashed a shot wide of the goal. The Blue Raiders continued to push the tempo forcing two good saves out of Bethel's Norberto Lime Vieira with shots from Nathaniel Opoku and David Ibrahimkadic. Pedro Maximiano had the best look of the half as he had a wide-open look in the center of the box after receiving a low cross from Alexander Koziolek but couldn't put his effort on goal missing wide of the net.

Only for the second time this season, the Blue Raiders needed overtime to separate themselves from their opponents. Lindsey Wilson had a great look in the 96th minute to find the winner but as he did all night long, Vieira created some outstanding goalkeeping for the Wildcats stopping all three point-blank shots to keep the game tied at 0-0, forcing double overtime.

In the second overtime period, it was the Blue Raiders goalkeeper Henrique Cavalini stealing the show as Pascal Mohungsi curled an effort towards the far corner for the Wildcats and the Brazilian made the outstanding diving save to keep things notched at 0-0.

It took spot kicks to separate the two teams as neither side could make the breakthrough in the overtime periods. Cavalini put the game into his own hands, literally, as the goalkeeper made two terrific saves in the shootout to help the Blue Raiders win it 4-2 after successful penalties from Cavalini himself, Victor Cavalcante, Amin Fernouchi, and Koziolek.

The Blue Raiders now advance to the championship match of the tournament which will be played on Friday, November 12th at 1:30 p.m. CT.