2024 Red River Athletic Conference women's soccer tournament

        TEXARKANA, Texas — Senior goalkeeper Theresa Wiesiolek saved three LSU-Alexandria shootout attempts and scored on the final shootout kick Thursday to give Xavier University of Louisiana women's soccer the championship of the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament at Judy Kelley Morgan Field.
        XULA and LSUA were tied at 2 through 110 minutes — 90 in regulation, then a pair of 10-minute overtime periods — then XULA prevailed 2-1 on placekicks.
        The tournament championship gave the Gold Nuggets (13-5-2), who played their first varsity game in August 2023, a second consecutive automatic bid to NAIA nationals. XULA earned its bid in 2023 by winning the regular-season championship.
        "I can't even describe how happy I am right now," Wiesiolek said. "I'm so very proud of this team. My teammates believed in me while saving and even taking a penalty kick."
        Wiesiolek, who had 10 saves before the shootout, was chosen tournament MVP.
        "Theresa Wiesiolek showed today just how special she is," XULA head coach Ashley Cordeiro said. "She was made for moments like these."
        Julia de Souza scored on XULA's first shootout attempt.
        XULA's two season goal leaders, Samira Roper and Luci Schroeder, gave XULA a 2-0 lead through 80 minutes. But LSUA tied it when Ksenija Pavlovic scored in the 81st minute and Alexia Bermejo Jo scored in the 83rd.
        "Our journey to get here wasn't easy, but it made us fight for it even more," Cordeiro said. "We have had some great competition this year that pushes us to continue to get better. This is a special group that has great determination to succeed. I am incredibly proud of my team, and we are excited to get back to the national tournament."
        LSUA, which won 1-0 at XULA in the final week of the regular season, is 12-4-4.
        Joining Wiesiolek on the 11-player all-tournament team were de Souza, Roper and Schroeder.
        The NAIA will announce the nationals qualifiers and bracket at 1 p.m. CST Saturday.
        "This season is not over yet," Wiesiolek said, "and it won't be for a while."