Cal State San Marcos has won the first-ever Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Conference Championship!  The second-seeded Cougars and first-seeded Simon-Fraser went through regulation and overtime locked in a 0-0 scoreless tie, but the Cougars would prevail in penalty kicks, winning the shootout 7-6.

It was a storybook ending, as Katelyn Krauss, the team's only senior, drove home the winning shootout goal to propel the Cougars to their first-ever NAIA National Playoff appearance. 

As expected, Saturday's game was tightly-contested from start to finish.  Simon-Fraser, the tournment's top seed and the 13th ranked team nationally, played the second-seeded Cougars very tough.  CSUSM out-shot SFU 5-4 in the very physical and defensive-minded contest, but the Cougars' relentless spirit kept the team strong.

"Our girls kept getting stronger and stronger as the game went on," commented Head Coach Ron Pulvers.  "Their mental toughness, their drive to win, and their level of fitness are unbelievable."

After the overtime period ended scoreless, the teams lined up for the shootout, with Simon-Fraser taking a 3-2 lead when Lauren Johnson's shot sailed over the crossbar.  But Cougar keeper Kaycee Gunion, a true freshman, made an enormous save in the fourth round, and Breanna Brenton was able to even the score.

 The Cougars' depth, which has been this team's strength all season, was absolutely huge in the shootout.  Non-starters Caitlin Luna and Arielle Cohen both knocked home season-saving penalty kicks in the fifth and sixth rounds, with co-captain Kelly Wherry adding another in the seventh. 

With the score 6-6 heading into the eighth round, Gunion would come up big once again, stopping another shot to open the window of opportunity for CSUSM.  Up stepped Krauss, and with the conference championship on the line, she calmly delivered to spark the Cougar celebration.

"This was an amazing team effort," noted Pulvers.  "Every player deserves this."

Following the match, Wherry was named tournament MVP - a much-deserved award for someone whose importance to the team goes well beyond the statistics.  Wherry, Krauss, Gunion, Michele Ramirez, Lauren Hernandez, and Taylor Ziencina were all named to the All-Tournament Team.

The Cougars now turn their eyes to the national tournament.  CSUSM's next match will be set tomorrow, but there is a good chance that Cal State San Marcos will HOST the game next Saturday.  Details will be posted on this site when they are known.