KISSIMMEE, FL - Only four minutes separated the women's soccer team from their first ever NCCAA II Championship. But in a season that has been somewhat plagued by late-game collapses, PBU's achilles-heel of closing out matches struck again Monday night.
Up 2-1 with only minutes between the Crimson Eagles and their first ever program title, the unthinkable happened. A lapse in PBU's normally resilient defense saw Crown College make the most of the opportunity they were given as the Lady Storm's Erin Kunde scored in the 86th minute of play to tie the game at 2-2 and send the contest into overtime.
The extra sessions saw both defenses unyielding, and although both teams had several opportunities to score neither offense could finish. Like it or not, the even score at the end of the 110th minute of play meant that penalty kicks would be required decide the 2007 NCCAA II champion.
Unfortunately for PBU it wasn't to be. In somewhat anti-climatic fashion the Crimson Eagles missed their first three attempts in PK's while Crown College, the #1 seed and defending national champions, connected on their first trio of shots to help secure the victory and, ultimately, the national championship.
Monday's defeat marks the sixth of the season for PBU in which they've lost either in overtime or after allowing the game-winning goal with less than five minutes to play in regulation. Additionally, seven of the team's 11 losses for the season have come by a single goal. In any case, no loss this season has been more significant or tough to swallow as Monday's.
Despite a somewhat disheartening end to the season, the Crimson Eagles still managed to advance further than any other women's soccer team in school history as it was the first time the program made an appearance in the NCCAA championship game. After receiving an at large bid into the tournament and breezing through the first two rounds of the playoffs, the loss still gives the Crimson Eagles an impressive second place finish in all of NCCAA II.
Midfielder Amanda Kirkner was the lone Crimson Eagle to contribute on the offensive end, as the senior scored her 4th and 5th goals of the year to give PBU their initial 2-1 advantage. Kirkner scored her first goal several minutes into the game and her second later in the first half during the 31st minute.
According to the soccer handbook, Monday's game is recorded as a tie, giving PBU a final season standing record of 12-9-2, a 56.5% winning percentage. The win in penalty kicks gives the Lady Storm their second title in as many seasons. Crown finishes with a final record of 14-7-1.
Congratulations to head coach Dave Loesser who was named Coach of the Year in all of NCCAA II. The Crimson Eagles had several players named to the NCCAA Tournament Team, including Summer Mullen, Alexa Hayes, Hannah Messenger, Melissa Landis, and Amanda Kirkner.
Congratulations to the entire team for a fantastic season!
