CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Washington State freshman Mesa Owsley hasn't scored a point all season. But her penalty kick last week is the reason the Cougars are in the second round of the NCAA women's soccer tournament.

Afterward, her victory dance said it all.

"I'm known as the dancer on the team," she acknowledged this week. After her penalty kick, "I turned around and I was so excited. I saw Brandi (Vega) sprinting toward me, so my immediate reaction was to let it all out with a stupid dance move. It was really embarrassing, actually."

The Cougars (12-6-4) play a second-round game at 4 p.m. PDT today at Virginia (15-4-2).

Owsley's kick made the difference as the Cougars edged Kentucky 4-2 in penalty kicks after the teams tied 1-1 through 90 minutes of regulation time and 20 minutes of overtime.

It was appropriate enough, since freshmen have been key to the Cougars' improvement this year after they went 7-13-0 last season and missed the NCAAs - the only year in the last four they've failed to secure a bid.

Three of their four succcessful penalty kicks last week were by freshmen.

"They always reference it back to last year," said Owsley, a reserve midfielder from Colorado. "One of our teammates told us as freshmen, the reason we're a more successful team and such a different team this year is because of our freshman class. We came in knowing we had to make an impact, and we haven't let up on that."

Another tight match seems probable today, after WSU and Virginia fought to a 0-0 tie in a tournament in September.

The Cavaliers are participating in their 18th straight NCAA tournament, and looking for their seventh consecutive trip to the round of 16. They are 15-3-2 at home in NCAA play since 2000.

Their goalkeeper, Chantel Jones, set an NCAA record with her 45th career shutout in the first round of the tournament, a 2-0 win over Long Island.