John Kwennah scored the season-saving tying goal with two seconds left in regulation and Nick Bernsdorf made saves on two of four penalty kick attempts as No. 6 seed Mount Olive advanced past No. 3 seed Erskine in a penalty kick shootout in the first round of the 2012 Conference Carolinas Men's Soccer Tournament Tuesday at Due West, S.C. The match officially is scored a 1-1 tie, with the Trojans winning the shootout 4-2.

With the win, Mount Olive heads to Gaffney, S.C., Friday to face Limestone in the semifinal round.

With Mount Olive (6-8-4) trailing 1-0 and the final seconds winding down on the Trojans' season, a scramble ensued in the Erskine box. Kwennah captured the loose ball in front of the goal and scored at the 89:58 mark to force overtime and keep the Trojans' season alive.

Just as in their 0-0 tie in September during the regular season, neither team scored in either overtime period to force the shootout. The penalty kick shootout was the Trojans' second in school history and first since advancing past Queens in the semifinal round of the 2004 tournament, when Mount Olive went on to claim its first conference championship.

Bernsdorf set the tone for the shootout with a save on Erskine's first attempt. Tyler Vandevender put home his pk attempt to give Mount Olive a 1-0 lead after the first round.

Erskine goalkeeper Robert De La Vina and P.C. Henry both converted for the Flying Fleet, while Kelly Keaton and Kwennah both answered for Mount Olive as the Trojans led 3-2 after three rounds.

Bernsdorf followed with his second save and put Mount Olive just one goal away from clinching the win. Craig Allan delivered the winning penalty kick for the Trojans' first conference tournament victory since 2006.

Erskine (8-6-4) broke a scoreless tie late in the first half on Jack Kimber's goal. Marco Borsetto crossed to Kimber, who scored from the top of the 18. The one-goal lead appeared to be enough until Kwennah's heroics just before the final horn at the end of regulation.

Mount Olive outshot Erskine 16-10 for the match, including an 11-4 advantage in the second half and overtime. Bernsdorf recorded one of his two saves in the first overtime, while De La Vina finished with seven saves in the match. De La Vina's final save came on Allan's shot attempt with 35 seconds left in the second overtime.

Limestone rallied from a first-half deficit to defeat No. 7 seed Belmont Abbey 2-1 in its first-round match Tuesday. The Saints scored the game winner with less than 10 minutes left in the contest.

Mount Olive advanced past the first round of the conference tournament for the first time since a 1-0 victory at No. 2 seed Belmont Abbey six years ago. The Trojans were limited to only one shot in that match, Ryan Adamski's goal just 94 seconds into the contest.

Ironically, Mount Olive faced Limestone in its last semifinal appearance. The Trojans rallied from an early deficit to take a 2-1 lead before falling to the eventual 2006 conference champion Saints 3-2.

Friday's match time is 2 p.m. The winner advances to the championship match Sunday.