ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Ryan Hanson collected a season-best 12 saves, including three key stops in overtime, but 17th-ranked and second-seeded Flagler connected in all four chances in a game-deciding penalty kick shootout to advance to the NCAA's Sweet 16 on Saturday evening at Saints Field.

Junior Brett Luccia and senior Michael Smith drilled their penalty kicks into the back of the net despite Flagler's (10-4-4) netminder Camp Bissell diving to save senior Sean Hoek and sophomore Sam Miles' shots . The Saints were unblemished in penalty kicks as Kevin Keenan, Stephen Pratt, Jonny Cosgrove and Zach Shanahan chipped in each shot past a UNCP's (12-5-2) lunging Hanson. Both goalkeepers officially tallied shutouts.

"The guys gave an unbelievable amount of effort in the game and we have made great progress this year," said UNCP head coach Phil Hinson. 

Hanson proved to be the key as the UNCP (12-5-2) defense held off 27 shots by Flagler (10-4-4), including 15 strikes by the Saints in the second half. With the help of the back line, the junior denied six shots apiece by Cosgrove and Joseph Toby, as well as five shots by Triston Hall and Marco Warren.

Despite UNCP registering the first shot of the game, Hanson proved his presence between the piped as he collected a trio of saves on the first three shots by Flagler in the opening 30 minutes. Hanson brought down two saves in the final minutes and, finally in overtime, the Saints tried to rattle off five shots, three of which were saved by Hanson.

"Hanson was fantastic. He had a great game," Hindson said. "Any penalty kick is luck and it is a lottery when the guy is taking the shot, and no one can be fault on a made penalty shot."

Smith posted a team-best three shots, while juniors Payne Clark and Martin Tomter each tallied two shots. The Braves finished the match with 10 shots, while Flagler totaled 27 chances. 

The Braves matched their third-best finish in 20 years (NCAA Division II era) with 12 wins - the best win total during the Hindson era. 

UNCP made history this season as it advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament for the first time since 2004 when the squad advanced to the Final Four under former head coach Mike Schaeffer.