FOLEY, Ala. – The No. 7-seeded Coastal Carolina women's soccer team upset No. 2-seeded South Alabama, 2-1, at the 2024 Sun Belt Women's Soccer Championship tournament in Foley, Al., on Monday afternoon.

The win marks the first time Coastal has reached the Sun Belt Championship tournament semifinals since beating Texas State in 2017.

Coastal wasted no time getting on the scoreboard when Julia Ziegenfuss ripped the ball into the bottom left corner in the fourth minute to give CCU a 1-0 lead.

The Chants looked to extend their lead in the seventh minute Eleanor Ashton crossed the ball to Madison Micheletti in the six-yard box, but the junior fired her shot over the crossbar to hold the score at 1-0.

In the 23rd minute, Coastal doubled its lead when Tamlyn Parkes floated a perfect ball over the South Alabama's backline to find Ziegenfuss. The junior then belted the ball over the head of the South Alabama keeper to record a brace and put CCU up 2-0.

It was a battle of the defense over the remaining 18 minutes of the half with each team refusing to allow a single shot to be taken.

At the end of the first frame, CCU and South Alabama tied with three shots and two corners apiece while the Chants led 1-0 in saves.

South Alabama answered back in 57th minute when Irene Campo's freekick found the head off Bonnie Frost who flicked the ball into the back of the net to narrow the gap to 2-1.

CCU had a huge opportunity in the 63rd minute when Ziegenfuss took aim on goal, but the Jaguars keeper made a point-blank save to deny Ziegenfuss of a hat trick and to hold the score at 2-1.

With 15 minutes left to play the Jaguars pressed the CCU defense when Kyra Kotsopoulos smashed the ball towards the bottom left corner forcing a diving save out Aris Lamanna to keep the score at 2-1.

The Jaguars had a last-ditch attempt in the 87th minute when Laurie Ann Moise fired a shot from inside the box but it was met by the side netting to secure the 2-1 victory for the Chants.

"Really happy with the performance from the entire team today. It was a complete team effort. The preparation from the girls has been the best it's been all season with the focus every bit on the performance as opposed to the result," stated head coach Jo Chubb. "They have a genuine belief that if we focus on the performance, a positive result can be a byproduct of that. They vowed to leave everything on the field and that's exactly what they did. The most exciting part of this is that we get to spend at least another couple days together; I know this incredible group isn't ready for this to end."

The Chanticleers will return to action on Wednesday to take on No. 3-seeded Texas State at 5 p.m. ET.

For complete coverage of CCU women's soccer, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalWSoccer (X), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com