MARTIN, Tenn. – Sixth-seeded SIUE women's soccer advanced to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament semifinals on the strength of 5-4 shootout victory over No. 3 seed Eastern Kentucky Thursday at Skyhawk Field.

The game officially went down as a 0-0 tie with the Cougars advancing.

"It's just great to see everyone so happy," SIUE Head Coach Derek Burton said. "To see everyone walking off the field with smiles on their faces; a coach couldn't ask for much more."

The Cougars will take on Austin Peay in Friday's semifinal at 7 p.m. Austin Peay had a first round bye after earning the No. 2 seed.

It is the third consecutive game, and the fifth time this season, the Cougars have played extra time.

Freshman goalkeeper Jennifer Pelley made the save against EKU's Paige Larkin on the Lady Colonel's final attempt. Pelley made the save diving to her right. Jennifer Tucker, a defender, netted the final goal for SIUE scoring in the bottom left side of the goal.

"It's no mistake that I had her fifth," Burton said of the senior. "We practice PKs every day. She is as automatic as we have."

The Cougars converted all five of their penalty kick attempts after 110 minutes of scoreless play. Sarah Doggendorf, Hope Jones, Kourtney Price, and Michelle Auer all were successful in the shootout.

"All five of our shooters were as cool as you would like them to be," Burton said.

SIUE outshot Eastern Kentucky 22-10 for the game. Burton said the first half was particularly good for the Cougars.

"The first half was the best 45 minutes of soccer, maybe of the entire year," Burton said. "Hopefully we can carry some of this momentum forward into the match with Austin Peay."

No. 4 seed Southeast Missouri defeated fifth seeded-Belmont 1-0 in the earlier first round match. The Redhawks will meet top seed UT Martin in Friday's other semifinal.