HUNTSVILLE, AL --- It wasn't pretty and it wasn't easy, but the Howard women's soccer team has made its way back to the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game.

The No. 4 seeded Bison outlasted regular season champion and top overall seed Mississippi Valley State by beating the Devilettes, 4-3, in a penalty kick shootout after both teams played 110 minutes of 1-1 soccer Friday afternoon at the John Hunt Soccer Complex.

Howard will face No. 3 seed Alabama State on Sunday, November 8 at Noon Eastern (11 a.m. Central) for the SWAC Championship and the conference's automatic bid to the Women's College Cup.

Howard (12-7-2) scored the game's first goal in the 11th minute after senior forward Rasheeda Ansari dashed and dodged along the right side to net her 10th goal of the season. With a goal in hand, the Bison were able to keep Mississippi Valley State (13-7-2) at bay for the remainder of the half. However, MVSU would change its approach in the second half and work to put offensive pressure on the Bison . The move would pay off as MVSU outshot Howard 10-6 in the second and in the 56th minute, MVSU's Nykosi Simmons - the nation's leading goal scorer - lived up to the reputation by heading home the equalizing goal on a corner and double assist.

HU had two prime opportunities to end the contest late in regulation but a shot by Ansari was blocked and a close range attempt by sophomore Kela Gray was saved by Mississippi Valley's Rita Gyasi.

After a fairly quiet first overtime, things became to escalate in the second overtime period. In a nearly four-minute span, Ansari (red card at 105') and Gray (yellow at 108') were issued questionable cards because of physical play. For Howard, the infaction would stall any momentum the Bison were building. For Ansari, the red card would put a forceful end to her season. Ansari received a red card in the regular season meeting with Alabama State and must miss the Championship Game due to accumulation.

Another notable event came in the final minute the double overtime when sophomore goalkeeper Gabrielle Emilien subbed in for freshman keeper Mackenzie Diotte, effectively keeping her in for the shootout after Emilien saw time in only six games prior.

Emilien rewarded Head Coach Brent Leiba's faith in her by making a key save on MVSU's second shot to allow Howard to keep pace. Freshman defender Kendall Hamilton nailed Howard's final shot into the lower right side of the net, while MVSU's Ernestina Abambila missed her final shot wide right, sending the Howard bench into a celebratory frenzy.

SHOOTOUT
H1: Noelle Mccullom MADE [Rita Gyasi]
M1: Rita Gyasi MADE [Gabrielle Emilien]
H2: Whitney White MISSED [Rita Gyasi saved]
M2:Paxton Rodocker MISSED [Gabrielle Emilien]
H3: Dytria Ruddy MADE [RitaGyasi]
M3:Haley Hendricks MADE [Gabrielle Emilien]
H4: Jordan Bynoe MADE [RitaGyasi]
M4: Amberly Halstead MADE [Gabrielle Emilien]
H5: Kendall Hamilton MADE [RitaGyasi]
M5: Ernestina Abambila MISSED [Gabrielle Emilien]