Kulish Scores Twice as Park Gilbert Outlasts OUAZ in Shootout to Advance to GSAC Semifinals

MESA, Ariz. – Fourth-seeded Park Gilbert rallied from a pair of one-goal deficits before prevailing 4-2 in a penalty-kick shootout against fifth-seeded OUAZ following a 2-2 draw through 110 minutes in the opening round of the 2026 GSAC Women's Soccer Championship.

Mikenzie Kulish scored both goals for the Buccaneers (11-6-2), including the equalizer in the 80th minute, as Park Gilbert advanced to the conference semifinals. The loss ended the season for OUAZ (9-5-4), which held leads in both halves but could not put away the hosts.

OUAZ opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Alee Williams found the back of the net for her sixth goal of the season, giving the Spirit an early 1-0 advantage.

Park Gilbert responded less than eight minutes later. Kulish scored her seventh goal of the season in the 28th minute, finishing a play assisted by Kalei Ganotisi and Marisah Nolan to level the match at 1-1.

The Buccaneers continued to apply pressure following the equalizer, but OUAZ goalkeeper Eerika Erjansalo made consecutive saves against Ava Fike and Yadira Bernal in the 29th and 31st minutes to keep the match tied heading into halftime.

OUAZ regained the advantage early in the second half when Desiree Dutra scored her 10th goal of the season in the 56th minute, putting the Spirit back in front 2-1.

The visitors maintained their lead for more than 20 minutes before Kulish delivered another crucial goal. In the 80th minute, the Park Gilbert forward scored her second goal of the afternoon and eighth of the season, tying the match at 2-2 and ultimately forcing overtime.

Park Gilbert controlled much of the action during the two overtime periods, outshooting OUAZ 8-2. Erjansalo made three saves in the additional 20 minutes, including consecutive stops against Darienne Thompson and Bekah Sipinga in the 94th minute and another against Fike in the 106th.

OUAZ also threatened during overtime, but Park Gilbert goalkeeper Journey Morimoto and the Buccaneers' defense kept the visitors off the scoreboard, sending the contest to penalty kicks.

Both teams converted their opening attempts, with Sipinga scoring for Park Gilbert and Williams answering for OUAZ. Neither team converted in the second round before Ganotisi and Meredith Galus traded successful attempts in the third, leaving the shootout tied 2-2.

Morimoto stepped forward to convert Park Gilbert's fourth attempt, and OUAZ's Grace Otero missed, giving the Buccaneers a 3-2 advantage. Nolan then converted Park Gilbert's fifth kick to clinch the 4-2 shootout victory.

Park Gilbert finished with a 20-10 advantage in shots, including an 8-5 edge in shots on goal. Bernal led all players with seven attempts, while Fike added four shots, including three on target. Kulish finished with two goals on two shots.

Erjansalo recorded six saves for OUAZ, while Morimoto finished with three stops for the Buccaneers. OUAZ held an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Williams led OUAZ with three shots and a goal, while Dutra added her team-leading 10th goal of the season.

Park Gilbert advances to face top-seeded Embry-Riddle in the GSAC semifinals Friday, Nov. 6, at Varsity Field in Prescott, Arizona. The winner will advance to the conference championship match Tuesday, Nov. 10.