SoCon Women's Soccer Championship Page  / Stephanie DeVita's Game Winner Video

Greenville, S.C. -- Senior Stephanie DeVita scored two goals in the final eight minutes of regulation, including the game-winning tally with just five seconds on the clock, to carry Furman to a 2-1 victory over UNCG on Friday night and into Sunday's Southern Conference Women's Soccer Championship Match versus Mercer.

The second-seeded Paladins (16-4-1) and No. 4 seed Bears (9-7-4) will square off for the tournament title and NCAA Tournament automatic berth at 1 p.m. on Sunday on Seagraves Field at Stone Stadium.  The match will be streamed live on ESPN3.

With the Paladins trailing 1-0 and under eight minutes left in regulation, DeVita, the SoCon's all-time leading goal scorer, knotted the match at 1-1.  Sophomore Rachel Shah served a corner kick inside the six-yard box at the near post and DeVita nodded her shot inside the right post at 82:14 for her league-best 16th goal of the season.

The match appeared to be headed for overtime as the public address announcer counted down the final 10 seconds of regulation, but DeVita dribbled to the right wing near the top corner of the box and lofted a shot towards the center of the goal that cleared UNCG goalkeeper Chloe Buehler's outstretched hands before slipping under the cross bar with five seconds remaining.  The stunning match-winner marked the 17th goal of the season and 67th of DeVita's career.  Her 157 career points (67g, 23a) pulls her within four points of former Georgia Southern standout Tara Chaisson's SoCon career record.

"That's just an unbelievable ending to an exciting soccer match," said Paladin head coach Andrew Burr, who guided Furman to its sixth SoCon title appearance in his 11 years at the helm of the program. "The girls never quit tonight, our defense worked hard to keep us in the game and Stephanie DeVita just willed us into the finals."

UNCG (9-9-3) took the lead in the 11th minute when Candice Forbes lined a low cross from the right wing that went through the box before being hammered between the left post and Paladin goalkeeper Maggie Grisell by senior Chesney White for the opening score of the match.

DeVita came close to an equalizer in the 28th and 31st minutes and Carlie Couch forced Buehler into a save in the final minute of the period, but UNCG managed to carry a 1-0 lead into the break.

Grisell, who improved to 15-2-1 in goal this season, denied Forbes on a pair of shots in the opening eight minutes of the second half and stopped a Dena Cisic goal bound shot in the 58th minute to set up DeVita's late heroics.  The senior finished with four saves to help Furman improve to 9-1-1 at home this season as the Paladins extended their winning streak to eight matches and unbeaten run to 10 games. Buehler recorded six saves for UNCG.

Furman finished with a 13-8 edge in total shot attempts and 8-5 advantage in shots on goal.

Tickets for Sunday's championship match can be purchased on FurmanPaladins.com or at the Stone Stadium entrance beginning one hour prior to the match.  Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children up to 12 years old.

Mercer reached the SoCon finals by advancing past top-seed Samford in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in the first semifinal match of the day.  The Bears are going for their second straight SoCon Tournament crown.

Follow @FurmanWSoccer on Twitter for in-game updates on every Furman women's soccer match.



Jordan Caskey, Furman Sports Information