EVANS, Ga. – Armstrong Atlantic's Nadima Skeff fired in the golden goal from 15 yards out Friday night to lead the top-seeded Pirates to a 3-2 overtime victory over Lander in the Peach Belt Conference Women's Tournament semifinals at Blanchard Woods Park.
Armstrong, which in ranked No. 19 nationally improves to 14-2-3, while Lander slips to 13-5-1.
The Pirates advance to Sunday's 1 p.m. championship game where they will meet third-seeded Columbus State, a 3-0 winner over second-seeded North Georgia.
Lander surprised the Pirates by jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first 20 minutes of the game. Christina Barbour chipped the ball over the head of Armstrong Atlantic goalkeeper Meghan Mayville to give Lander a 1-0 lead at 24:38. Jamie Shaw assisted on the goal.
The Bearcats stretched the margin to 2-0 at 26:38 when Kimberly Kesler nailed a shot from 10 yards out on an assist from Barbour.
Armstrong came back late in the half to tie the game at 2-2 when the Pirates scored a pair of goals within a two-minute span. Kelli Bahr found the back of the net at 43:19 on an assist from Erin O'Rourke, then the Pirates tied the game at 2-all on an own goal at 44:56.
Skeff's winning shot came at 98:55.
The Pirates outshot Lander, 17-7, and led in corner kicks, 7-3.
Lander goalkeeper Chelsea Beetch had 10 saves, while Armstrong's Meghan Mayville had 5.