DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Loras College women's soccer team earned the American Rivers Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament after defeating the No.2-seeded Simpson College Storm in the conference championship match on Saturday evening inside the Rock Bowl.

Simpson (15-2-2 overall, 7-1-0) A-R-C) put itself on the board first with a goal by Cassie Nash in the 24^th-minute of play, marking just the second time this season the Duhawks have found themselves trailing in a match.

Emerson Gasmann brought new life to the Loras (16-1-1, 8-0-0) offense, checking into the game at 35:07 and scoring the equalizing goal 18 seconds later off an assist from Savannah Johnson to tie things up at 1-1.

Both squads totaled seven shots in the second half, but neither team was able to find the back of the net. After two scoreless overtimes, the game would be decided by a penalty kick shootout.

Kyndal Kells recorded two big saves in the shootout to help secure the Duhawks 3-2 win to advance to the national tournament.

Up Next: Loras will learn their opponent and the location of the first round at tomorrow's selection show.