Box Score ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — The Cal State San Marcos women's soccer team saw its season come to an end on Monday afternoon, falling 3-2 to third-seeded Northwood (Fla.) in the NAIA National Championship Second Round at the Orange Beach Sports Complex.

After playing to zeroes at the half, the Seahawks scored three goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half. However, the Cougars made it 3-2 by the 72nd minute and nearly pushed the match into overtime with a couple of good looks late.

"We battled, we fought hard, and I think we were the better team for most of the first half and the remaining part of the second half," said head coach Ron Pulvers. "I think the girls showed what they are all about. They never gave up in the midst of a lot of adversity."

CSUSM came out on the offensive in the first half, outshooting the Northwood 6-3 and holding a three-to-one edge in shots on goals. Dani Porter nearly gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead with two minutes left in the first half after slipping by the final defender on the right side, but Seagull goalkeeper Matilda Ojaniemi got just enough of the ball to push it off the crossbar and out of bounds for a corner kick.

The Cougar defense was nearly flawless before the break, holding the Seagulls to season low first-half totals of shots and shots on goal. Northwood averaged 4.31 goals per game coming into the match, but the only major threat it could muster was a single dribbler that was scooped up easily.

Northwood showed just how dangerous it could be to open the second half, scoring within the first minute after the Cougars couldn't come up with a ball deep in their own zone. The Seagulls' Johanna Engberg struck again for her second goal just four minutes later, heading in Stinne Laursen's corner kick.

Down 2-0, the game took a big turn in the 55th minute when CSUSM goalkeeper Amanda Sears picked up a ball in front of a charging Northwood forward Helen Lynskey. As Sears braced herself for impact, the two players collided, with Lynskey dropping to the ground. The referee issued a yellow card to Sears and awarded a penalty kick, which Lynskey put away into the left corner of the net to make it 3-0 Seagulls. It marked Lynskey's 101st career goal.

Unfazed and re-energized after the unpopular call and a yellow card issued to Lynskey just 25 seconds later, the Cougars put their foot back on the gas pedal and controlled the final 35 minutes of the half.

A handball in the 66th minute gave CSUSM a penalty kick of its own, which midfielder Paulina Good converted for her team-best sixth goal of the season to cut the deficit to two.

The Cougars appeared to score again in the 71^st minute when Dani Porter one-timed a ball into the back of the net, but it was waived back after an offside call.

Two minutes later, Brianne Searl played a beautiful free kick into the box, which Monica Aguilera headed cleanly in stride past Northwood's Ojaniemi to make the score 3-2.

With 15 minutes remaining, Jennifer Hager nearly came up with the equalizer from about 45 yards out, making Ojaniemi extend fully to punch the ball off the crossbar.

Despite several more chances in the final 15 minutes and keeping the ball on the Northwood side of the field, the Cougars were unable to come up with the game-tying goal. For the match, the Cougars outshot Northwood 15-11 and held a 8-6 advantage in shots on goal.

"It's a tough way to go down for sure, but hopefully the lessons we learned this season and in this game will last them a lifetime," added Pulvers. "It's a great group, and I'm going to miss them a whole lot."

With the loss, CSUSM wraps up its season with a 12-6-1 record. Northwood now stands at 16-1-1 and will advance to the quarterfinals Wednesday against the winner of Vanguard and Robert Morris.