COSTA MESA, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos women's soccer team is headed back to the final site of the NAIA National Championship for the second consecutive season after No. 15 CSUSM took down No. 10 Vanguard 4-3 in penalty kicks in the NAIA Opening Round on Saturday afternoon at VU Field.

The Cougars remain unbeaten in their last 13 games and move to 11-2-5 on the season. VU's season ends at 16-3-2.

After battling to a scoreless tie through 90 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute sudden-victory overtimes, the Cougars headed to spot kicks for the second game in a row; CSUSM took down Ashford in penalties, 5-4, for the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Conference Championship last weekend.

VU clanged its first shot off the crossbar before Amanda Sears made a diving save on the Lions' second shooter. Brianne Searl and Natalie Lara were good on their attempts and CSUSM took a 2-0 lead after the first two rounds.

Paulina Good and VU converted attempts on the third try. Leading 3-2, Sarah Campbell had a chance to end the match with the final kick in the fourth round, but Lion goalkeeper Lauren Terry dove low to her right and pushed the shot away.

VU made its final kick to pull even, 3-3, but Courtney Kay would have the final say. She went low and to her left, tucking the ball inside the left post to send CSUSM back to 'Bama, 4-3.

"This team just does not quit, what a group," said CSUSM first-year head coach Bobby Renneisen. "This team deserves it, to come up here and not let in a goal. We're a resilient team. We're going to back to Alabama to see what we can do there."

The Cougars will be making their third trip to the NAIA National Championship final site. It will be the first time in which CSUSM makes the trip in consecutive seasons.

On the score sheet, VU and CSUSM were nearly identical. Each team took 13 shots, eight on frame for the Cougars, seven for the Lions. VU won the corner kick battle, 8-7.

Dangerous opportunities were at a premium, but both teams had fair chances to end it before penalties.

Sears pushed Rayven Hernandez's shot over the bar in the second half before being called into action on Nicole Dunn's opportunity to the far post.

Morgan Simmons' long-range opportunity was saved off the crossbar late in regulation, and Monica Aguilera had her sliding attempt tipped out in the extra period.

The Cougars move on to face No. 2 Concordia (Ore.) next Monday, December 1 at 3:30 p.m. PT.