SAN ANGELO, Texas -- Senior goalkeeper Kallie Essary stood tall Friday afternoon delivering Midwestern State to the LSC Postseason Tournament finals as the Mustangs advanced 3-1 in penalty kicks after playing Texas A&M-Commerce to a scoreless draw at the ASU Soccer Field.
 
The Mustangs will face West Texas A&M, 1-0 winner over host Angelo State in the other semifinal, in the title game on Sunday. Kickoff is set for noon.
 
"We came out a little slow, but they are so tough to play," MSU coach Jeff Trimble said. "They are so good on corners and restarts so your margin for error isn't very big."
 
Essary made three tops to clinch her program single season record with her ninth shutout of the campaign, but she came up even bigger when it mattered most.
 
"She surprises me more and more every day," Trimble said. "This was a great, great game for her. She came up really big."
 
The Carrollton native lunched to her left to make a save on A&M-Commerce's Jade Bell on the Lions' first penalty kick after sophomore Morgan Hannon converted MSU's first attempt, but sophomore forward Ashley Cottrell's serve was saved to the right.
 
A&M-Commerce Anitra Wright tucked her shot just under the right corner of the crossbar to equalize the PK session and then MSU freshman Katie Huff put MSU up 2-1.
 
The Essary came up aces again stopping A&M-C leading scorer Savannah Henderson's blast by with a diving stop to her left.
 
Tatyanny Griffiths tucked her service into the lower left corner of the net then Brionna Minde blasted the Lions' fourth penalty kick over the crossbar to end the contest.
 
"We picked our 10 this week (to shoot PKs) and we practiced them every day this week," Trimble said. "Coaches Kyle (Redding) and Amanda (Snodgrass) did a good job selected them. We told them to just be confident and not be scared. And Kallie stood on her head."
 
Texas A&M-Commerce controlled a 5-3 edge in shots in the opening half while working its way to six corner kicks, but the Lions were unable to produce many dangerous opportunities.
 
Behind a strong defensive performance by senior Anna Molen and sophomore Alex Edwards alongside freshmen Haley Britton and Huff, the Mustangs shut down the A&M-Commerce attack holding the Lions to six total shots the rest of the way with three shots on frame.
 
"The back line played really well," Trimble said. "That is a lot of pressure to be under."
 
The Mustangs controlled possession which resulted in 13 shots the rest of the way as Kensli Pounds hit the post with a shot from the right wing in the 108th minute. That was just one of the many opportunities MSU produced in front of the A&M-Commerce goal.
 
Notables
- Midwestern State advances on penalty kicks for the second time in LSC Postseason Tournament play. The Mustangs moved on 5-4 in PKs in the opening round of the 2005 tournament after playing Angelo State to a 2-2 draw.
- Senior goalkeeper Kallie Essary has posted shutouts in five of her last six starts surrendering only two goals last week against Angelo State during the run. She lowered her season goals against average to 0.62.
- The Mustangs improved to 8-9 all time in the LSC semifinal round and to 17-14-1 overall in their 18th LSC Postseason Tournament appearance.
- MSU is 3-4 in seven LSC title appearances claiming tournament titles in 1996, 1998 and 2011.
- This will be the fourth meeting between MSU and West Texas A&M in the tournament finals with the Mustangs claiming wins in 1996 and 1998 while the Lady Buffs won in 1997.