OLATHE, Kan. -- Soccer can be a cruel game, and after 3 sudden-death overtime periods failed to separate top-seeded Azusa Pacific and No. 2-seeded Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) from a 1-1 tie, a rocket off the foot of Kristine Pedersen at the 122-minute mark dashed the Cougars’ title hopes in an instant in the championship game of the 2006 NAIA Women’s Soccer Championship.
“We wanted that banner more than anything,” said junior Randie Massro. “We all wanted it. We worked so hard all season, and to lose like this is pretty heartbreaking.”
The Cougars, who spent 90 minutes of regulation unleashing a barrage of shots from all over the field, fired 26 shots to just 8 for the Blue Raiders in regulation, including a goal from sophomore Sarah Yoro in the 22nd minute that gave Azusa Pacific a 1-0 lead. Freshman Theresa Broad served a ball in from the left side, and Yoro sent it past Lindsey Wilson goalkeeper Lisbeth Skjodt into the side netting to the far post.
The Blue Raiders tied it up in the 38th minute, when Sashsheena Stewart played through to Omolyn Davis, who slotted it inside the left post. With 15 shots fired in the first half alone, the game-winning goal seemed closer than 84 minutes and 6 seconds away, but on the 46th shot attempt after halftime, Pedersen’s shot from the left side of the penalty area sailed into the upper right corner to give the Blue Raiders the national title.
“Somebody always seemed to step up, and we always seemed to pull through, it just didn’t happen tonight,” said Surrell. “Defensively I thought we were great – we had one little slip-up in regulation, and we corrected that problem. Both teams were tired, but I thought we were looking strong toward the end there. What do you do – they got one chance.”
In the final minute of the first overtime period, sophomore Bridget Brotherton headed in a cross from Broad, but Brotherton was whistled offside, and play resumed.
“You would think that would have affected us, but we kept playing,” said Surrell, whose squad kept the heat on when Broad unleashed a sinking drive that hit the top of the crossbar and skipped over the goal with just seconds remaining in the period. “It wasn’t like they turned around and scored right after that, the girls just dealt with it and kept playing. It’s just a tough way to go after having such a great season.”
Skjodt made 11 saves, and 3 more of the Cougars’ 33 shots were cleared off the line behind Skjodt by the Lindsey Wilson defense. Cougar goalkeeper Jill Colfer finished with 6 saves behind an Azusa Pacific defense that played without the services of 2006 GSAC Player of the Year, senior Julie Fletcher. Massro, who held down the central midfield all year before shifting to the central defense after Fletcher’s injury in the quarterfinal, again teamed with senior Mandy Heins to create a formidable back line that kept the Blue Raiders on the defensive throughout most of the game.
“Those girls played outstanding,” said Colfer. “They played their hearts out, they left everything on the field, and I couldn’t ask anything more of them. Fletcher was a big part of our team, but these girls stepped it up, and it was working for us.”
Massro finished with 7 shots, putting 3 on goal, getting several header opportunities off Cougar free kicks and corner kicks. Azusa Pacific generated 7 corner kicks while surrendering just 1 to Lindsey Wilson.
Massro, senior Jolie Nitta, sophomore Karen Lawrence and Broad each earned All-Tournament honors. Broad was named the tournament’s Outstanding Offensive Player, and Lawrence was named the tournament’s Outstanding Defensive Player.
With the defeat, Azusa Pacific finishes its season with an overall record of 21-2, while Lindsey Wilson finishes the year at 23-2.
