West Chester, Pa. - For the first time since 2004, the No. 14 Adelphi University women's soccer team has earned a berth to the NCAA Division II Women's Final Four.

An 86th-minute clincher by Alexis Hellman sent the second-seeded 'Cats to a thrilling 1-0 victory over No. 4 seed Gannon University in the national quarterfinals of the 2023 NCAA Division II Championship at West Chester University's Rockwell Field.

A Most Valuable Player in her own right, Hellman has accounted for five of the team's ten goals this postseason -- with four game-winners to boot.

"I had a lot of faith in my teammates, and I knew that we could do it from the beginning," Hellman said. "It's just about pushing each other to get everyone through." 

As the final minutes ticked toward extra time in a scoreless match, Sophia Cataldo played a perfect cross towards the far post that Hellman tapped into the goal with 4:35 remaining.

"Honestly, it's just being in the right position. That's how I score most of my goals. It's the right timing and having faith in my teammates," Hellman added.

Adelphi (15-3-5) last punched a ticket to the Final Four in 2004, when the Panthers dispatched Carson-Newman University, 2-1, to advance to the national championship game. The Brown and Gold would eventually fall to Metro State University, 3-2, in the national title game that season.

"This has always been a goal of mine as a player and a coach (to reach the Final Four)," Head Coach Brooke DeRosa commented. "It's definitely a surreal moment, but we are thankful for the opportunity we have and we're looking forward to what's ahead of us."

As the national committee re-seeds the four semifinalists ahead of next week's NCAA Division II National Championship in North Carolina, the Panthers firmly await the announcement of Thursday's semifinal opponent.

The other three semifinalists to join Adelphi in Matthews, N.C. are No. 7 Washburn University, No. 13 Point Loma Nazarene University and No. 17 Florida Tech.

Graduate keeper Krista Aliscio continued her stellar play in goal, capturing a new single-season record of 13 shutouts with her six-save outing, surpassing Anne Marie Ulliac's previous mark of 12 in 2015. 

While the 'Cats were outshot 15-10 in the match, the Panthers had the slight edge in possession across ninety minutes at 52 percent.

Adelphi now takes to the national stage, where semifinal play begins Thursday (Dec. 7) at the Sportsplex at Matthews in Matthews, N.C. More details will be announced at a later time on AUPanthers.com.