The women’s soccer team played its first game of the NCAA Championship Tournament yesterday and narrowly prevailed over Illinois Wesleyan University with a 2-1 overtime victory.

The Titans were the first to strike, as they went up 1-0 in the 44th minute on a goal by sophomore forward Tillie Bill. After being held scoreless the first 69 minutes of the game, the South Hill Squad finally broke through in the 70th minute when sophomore forward Ellyn Grant-Keane stole the ball from one of the Titan defenders and passed it to junior forward Rachael Palladino who scored the equalizer.

Both teams were unable to tally any more goals during regulation and the game went into extra time. The Blue and Gold would win the game in the 98th minute on a bizarre own goal by Illinois Wesleyan. Palladino laced a shot that struck the right goal post, which bounced off a charging Titan defender and went into the net to end the game.

It is the second consecutive year the Bombers have advanced to the regional finals of the NCAA Tournament. They will face host Ohio Northern University at 1 p.m. today in Ada, Ohio.