The action went back and forth in regulation with both teams have scoring opportunities but neither team being able to find the back of the net through the entire first half and the first 38 minutes of the second half.

Then, with just 6:03 remaining in the match, the visiting Vikings (2-2-2), who are ranked 18th in the latest NAIA national poll, ended its scoring drought when Christy Latimer scored off of Courtney Weber’s corner kick to take a 1-0 lead. In the first round on Friday, Berry had battled Notre Dame College to a scoreless draw through regulation and two overtime periods.

With their backs against the wall, the Lady Cougars (4-2-1) began to push up to try to equalize with the clock winding down. With 3:09 left, sophomore defender Nikki Bruscino (left) took a cross from freshman forward Jessica Estep and buried a shot into the back of the net to knot the score at 1-1. It was Bruscino’s first goal of the season.

The score remained tied at the end of regulation and through two 10-minute overtime periods as the match ended in a draw. With the tie, MVNU earned the tournament’s championship trophy with a record of 1-0-1 and a +5 goal differential. Notre Dame finished as the runner-up with a 1-0-1 record and a +2 goal differential.

“I was really pleased with our effort today,” said MVNU head coach Jonathan Meade. “I felt like we had some great opportunities going forward and gave (Berry) all they could handle. Unfortunately, we didn’t capitalize when we had the chances to. I’m proud of the team, though, as they fought back to come back when we were down 1-0.”

Berry out-shot the Lady Cougars 18-14 in the match, but MVNU held a 6-5 edge in shots on goal. Freshman Jenessa Loewen and senior Melissa Peters each played a half in goal with Peters playing both overtime periods as they combined to stop four shots. Vanessa Zimmerman posted five saves for the Vikings.

In the other match on Saturday, Notre Dame (5-0-2) blanked Nyack (N.Y.) College 2-0 as Kelly Brown and Jill Summers each scored a goal.  (BOXSCORE)

MVNU junior forward Page Miller (right) was selected as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, while Estep was chosen as the Most Valuable Offensive Player. Ann Brackman from Notre Dame was also named the Most Valuable Defensive Player. Bruscino, junior defender Kelly Sgambellone, and sophomore midfielder Erin Miller were each named to the All-Tournament Team for the Lady Cougars, while they were joined by Notre Dame’s Jessica Skoien, Jessica Mazzorato, and Emilie LaMarche, Berry’s Christy Latimer and Sarah Capati, and Nyack’s Nicole Keiser and Megan Detamore.

“The players who made the All-Tournament Team obviously did a great job, but the whole team really came together and played hard,” said Meade. “Even though some players got individual awards, it took the whole team this weekend. It was nice to bring the tournament title back to MVNU and this is another stepping stone to a higher level of play. As we get closer to conference play, we want to continue to raise our level of play.”

MVNU will return to action on Wednesday when the Lady Cougars will host NCAA Division II Tiffin University in a non-conference match that will begin at 4:00 p.m.