On Saturday, MVNU (13-7-2) prevailed over second-seeded Indiana Wesleyan University in the semifinals 5-4 in a shootout after a scoreless double overtime draw. This time, the third-seeded Lady Cougars were forced to come from behind just to force overtime.

After a scoreless first half, the fifth-seeded Mustangs (12-9-0) took a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute when Sherylan Smith played a long ball to Carly Heinzen, who beat the MVNU defense and found the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

However, MVNU did not give in and battled back to knot the score at 1-1 in the 69th minute. Junior forward Heather Ross found junior defender Samantha Tomlinson making a run down the flank. Tomlinson took the pass and bent a shot inside the far post for her first collegiate goal as the Lady Cougars got right back into the match.

Neither team was able to score again in regulation or in either of the two 10-minute overtime periods as the match moved into the shootout which starts with five players for each team taking a penalty kick.

The Master’s went first and failed on its first attempt, while junior forward Kristy Brandolini’s shot was saved by Leticia Pena, the Mustangs’ goalie. After The Master’s scored on its second attempt, Tomlinson knotted the score at 1-1 by converting her opportunity.

The Mustangs took a 2-1 lead as they scored on their third shot and senior midfielder Allie Warnemunde pushed her shot wide to give the advantage to The Master’s.

However, for the second straight match, MVNU senior goalkeeper Krysti Wilson came up big for the Lady Cougars as she saved both of the Mustangs’ final two attempts to keep MVNU in contention. In the semifinal shootout against Indiana Wesleyan, Wilson also stopped two attempts.

After the first stop, Ross found the back of the net on her attempt to tie the score at 2-2. Then, following the second save by Wilson, sophomore defender Mara Hughes gave the Lady Cougars their second NCCAA national title as she scored to make it 3-2.

"I am so proud of this team,” said MVNU head coach Jonathan Meade, who has now led the Lady Cougars to the NCCAA national championship match in three of the past four years as the team won the title in 2003 and finished as the runner-up in 2004. "We came to this tournament focused on winning, and the team played with a lot of spirit and determination in every match. I am so happy for our seniors who started their careers with a national title and now get to finish with one.”

"Our entire defense willed us to this win,” Meade added, referring to the back line of Tomlinson, Hughes, junior Stacy Robey, and freshman Angie Misamore. "Allison (Elifritz) was amazing in the midfield along with Allie (Warnemunde), while Heather (Ross) really contributed a lot to this win. Page (Miller) and Kelly (Sgambellone) also played really well as (The Master’s) focused on shutting down Kristy (Brandolini). And, of course, Krysti (Wilson) came up big for us with the match on the line. What a great team victory.”

Elifritz, a senior midfielder, was selected as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, while Wilson was named the Most Valuable Defensive Player for the second time in her career after previously claiming the honor as a sophomore. Brandolini, Sgambellone, and Misamore also earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team for the Lady Cougars.