CONWAY, Ark. – The Southeastern Lady Lions were in a familiar spot Sunday afternoon – in penalty kicks following a 0-0 tie through two overtime periods in the Southland Conference Tournament championship match against Sam Houston State.
 
And just as it happened in 2013 against Stephen F. Austin, Hope Sabadash and the Lady Lions prevailed, 3-1, as the junior goalkeeper made a diving save of a shot by the Bearkats' Katie Bunch to clinch the win and giving fourth-seeded Southeastern its fourth conference tournament championship.
 
"Congratulations to Sam Houston on a great match," Southeastern head coach Blake Hornbuckle said. "They are an extremely talented team. We were able to close out the game on penalty kicks and the reasons are Hope Sabadash in goal and the three shooters who made theirs along with 110 minutes of great effort our whole team gave."
 
Southeastern (13-4-4), which also won SLC Tournament titles in 1998, 2009 and '13, will learn its first round opponent in the Women's College Cup Monday at 3:30 p.m. during the Women's College Cup Selection Show on NCAA.com. First round matches are scheduled for Nov. 13-15.
 
Sunday's match was similar to the teams' meeting earlier this season when the two combined for 32 shots but could not find the net. This time, the Lady Lions and Bearkats had 31 shots combined, 17 on goal. Sabadash, the tournament's MVP, made eight saves while Kylie Hambleton, who also made the All-Tournament team, had eight for third-seeded Sam Houston (10-6-5).
 
Midfielder Maggie Ramsey, forwards Gisenia Utreras and Kayla Vera and defender Maddie Allen joined Sabadash on the All-Tournament team for Southeastern.
 
After a scoreless regulation and two overtime periods, Sam Houston won the toss and chose to shoot first in the shootout period. Mariah Titus shot first but had her attempt grabbed by Sabadash. Utreras then found the upper-right corner to give Southeastern a 1-0 lead. Micaela Birt tied it with a shot into the left corner but Vera faked Hambleton and found the left side of the net to make it 2-1.
 
After Meredith Carlson missed wide, Ana Zadro converted to extend the lead to 3-1. Bunch then sent a shot to the right side but Habadash dove to her left to block it and was swarmed over by her teammates.
 
Sabadash saved a shot by Titus with 10 seconds left to send the match into the extra periods.
 
Madison Cannon launched a shot from the right wing high from the right wing off a cross from Allie Johnson six minutes into the first overtime. Lindsey Bienski sent a header wide less than a minute later. Marisa Rodrigues answered with a header that was saved by Hambleton. Hambleton then stopped a shot by Utreras at 96:34.
 
Bri Singh sent a header high 1:16 into the second overtime. Sabadash saved a shot by Titus before Cannon sent a shot high at the 107:00 mark.
 
Shelby McDaniel got the match started quickly for Sam Houston with a shot that went wide at the 1:44 mark. Elizabeth McMurray then had a shot blocked off a corner by Kayla Vera at the 5:37 mark for Southeastern.
 
Sam Houston went back on the attack with Sabadash saving an attempt by Johnson, Titus sending a shot high and Cannon getting denied by Sabadash at the 12:21 mark.  Hambleton saved an attempt by Ramsey at 19:43.
 
The defenses took control over the next 10 minutes before Cannon sent a shot high at 30:44. Southeastern then had the best opportunity of the half when Singh header was punched over the net by Hambleton at the 33:31 mark.
 
Sabadash dove to stop a cross by Johnson, then knocked the ball away with Ashley Alonzo charging in at the 35-minute mark. She then came back with a save of a shot by Titus at 36:15 before Southeastern closed out the half with a barrage of shots. Utreras had an attempt saved by Hambleton, then had another shot blocked.
 
After Ramsey also had a shot blocked, Utreras had a shot deflected out by the Bearkat defense, then was denied by Hambleton with 39 seconds left in the half. Southeastern out-shot Sam Houston 8-6 in the half, including 5-3 in shots on goal.
 
Sabadash went low to pull in a shot by Alonzo at the 53-minute mark of the second half. Rodrigues missed wide on the counter 50 seconds later. After Sabadash stopped another attempt by Johnson, Ramsey sent one wide at 65:03.

Johnson had a shot blocked at 69:30 before Sabadash saved a shot by Kylie Dick two minutes later. Ramsey also had a shot denied by Hambleton at 73:14. That was the last shot until Hambleton saved one by Vanessa Arzaluz at 87:06.