CLINTON, Iowa – Amanda Sears blocked Sienna Fraser's penalty kick to clinch the 2014 Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Women's Soccer Conference Championship on Saturday afternoon at Saints Field.

After 110 minutes of scoreless play, No. 1-seed Cal State San Marcos converted all of its kicks and Sears came up big when it mattered most to preserve the 5-4 penalty-kick victory over No. 3-seed Ashford.

The Cougars receive the A.I.I.'s automatic berth to the NAIA National Championship, set to begin Nov. 22 at a site to be determined. CSUSM moves to 11-2-4 and remains unbeaten in its last 12 games, a new school record (9-0-3).

"This is really exciting for us, I'm really proud of the players' fight throughout the entire weekend," said CSUSM head coach Bobby Renneisen. "Defending our conference title was a goal of ours since day one. We accomplished it and now we have the potential to host a [NAIA] first round game."

CSUSM outshot Ashford (9-8-3) 20-6 and did not surrender a corner kick, but the Cougars could not find their way past AU goalkeeper Nyla Peterkin, who made eight saves.

The Saints and Cougars were meeting in their third consecutive conference title match. AU won on CSUSM's home soil in 2012, but the Cougars exacted revenge in the 2013 edition. It seemed fitting that the 2014 version would be decided from the spot.

The Cougars shot first and CSUSM defender Brianne Searl started it off by tucking a shot under the bar. Sarah Campbell drove a ball inside the right post and the teams were tied 2-2 through two rounds.

Paulina Good and Natalie Lara slotted their attempts to nearly the same exact spot inside the left post, and the teams went into their final attempts tied at 4-4.

CSUSM called on Katie Largent, a freshman, to take the final kick. The attempt nearly sailed high, but it caught the underside of the crossbar and bounced in behind the line to make it 5-4.

Fraser, who did not appear in either regulation or overtime, stepped into the box to take AU's final kick. She tried to go straight down the middle, but it didn't fool Sears and she punched it away from danger.

The Cougars mobbed their keeper in the box and celebrated their second consecutive conference title.

Sears, who was named the conference Goalkeeper of the Year prior to the tournament, was selected as the A.I.I. Championship's Most Outstanding Player. Brooke Carter, Nicole Luna, Monica Aguilera and Searl were named to the all-tournament team.

CSUSM will wait and see which team it will face in the NAIA Opening Round. It is possible that the Cougars could host the match next Saturday at the CSUSM Multipurpose Field, depending on what seed CSUSM receives. The field of 32 teams will be determined Monday.

The squad is currently ranked No. 15 in the NAIA and has been included in the top 25 every week of the regular season. 

CSUSM is 1-0-4 in overtime matches this season.

2014 A.I.I. Women's Soccer All-Tournament Team:
 
Cal State San Marcos: Amanda Sears (Most Outstanding Player), Brooke Carter, Brianne Searl, Nicole Luna, Monica Aguilera
Ashford: Stine Foraas, Luciane Wentz, Kelsey Kavic, Sierra Romero
Georgia Gwinnett: Magaly Gutierrez
Houston-Victoria: Emily Lupton