Complete Box Score

WICHITA FALLS, Tex. (Dec. 3) – For 24 games the Seattle Pacific University’s women’s soccer season played out like a dream. Then the Falcons received a rude awakening.

A goal by Nebraska-Omaha’s Brandie Beale 3 minutes, 3 seconds into sudden-death overtime gave the NCAA Division II championship to the Mavericks, 2-1 over previously unbeaten SPU Saturday afternoon.

Megan Lienhard scored the only goal in a 2-1 loss to Nebraska-Omaha in the championship match. Photo courtesy Marc Hagemeier.

It is the first national title for UNO (20-2-0), which was playing in its fourth straight Final Four. Seattle Pacific (20-1-4) took the lead early and had chances to go back in front in the second half.

Strangely, after going unbeaten (9-0-8) in 17 overtime games over four years, this time it was the Falcons who were felled on the final shot of the game.

“It was an amazing season,” said SPU coach Chuck Sekyra. “A program in its fifth year, losing 2-1 in overtime to a team that has been here three times before.

“We’re as good as any team in the country,” he added, “and we lost to a great team.”

Beale’s game-winner seemingly came out of nowhere. Following a throwin, she took a short pass from Amber Richardson at the top of the box, wheeled around and struck a firm 18-yard shot which found the upper left corner.

Suddenly the game was over. Elated UNO players swarmed the field while some of Seattle Pacific’s dropped to the ground, stunned.

Sarah Martinez had an assist on SPU's only goal of the day. Photo courtesy Marc Hagemeier.

“I turned inside and everybody was yelling for me to shoot,” said Beale, who scored her 13th and was voted the outstanding offensive player of the Final Four. She had also scored in the semifinal win over Franklin Pierce.

“I hadn’t been expecting her to turn that quickly,” said SPU defender Carolyn Nason (Jr., Lafayette, Co.). “It was a great shot.”

The game had started well enough. The Falcons scored on their first shot, less than 8 minutes after the opening kickoff.

Megan Lienhard (Sr., Everett, Wa./Cascade) coolly slotted home her 10th goal of the season from 10 yards after Sarah Martinez (So., Bothell, Wa./Cedar Park Christian) finished a run down the left side with a ball cut crisply across the crease.

Nebraska-Omaha answered less than three minutes later. Richardson’s high 20-yard shot went into the net off the hands of SPU keeper Jennifer Burns (Fr., Boise, Id./Capital).

What began as a shootout then settled into a gritty game between two teams with a combined 24 shutouts. High pressure on the part of UNO and strong winds combined to take the Falcons out of their normal possession game for much of the first period.

Seattle Pacific started the second half with a strong wind at its back and began taking charge, producing two clear chances in the first 15 minutes.

Amy Price, the Mavericks’ goalie, dived at the feet of Shannon Lovejoy (Sr., Seattle, Wa./Seattle Prep) in the 53rd minute for a point-blank save. Five minutes later, Shannon Oakes forced Price to push a 22-yard drive over the crossbar.

“I absolutely love how our team played the second half,” said Sekyra. “We had our chances to win the game, and I know my team played well enough to win it.”

In the latter stages of regulation time, both teams threatened. Martinez broke through and hit a first-time drive from 18 yards which Price turned around the left post. With 6:50 left, Burns denied Beale from 10 yards at the near post.

“Second place is not bad,” said Lovejoy, one of seven seniors. “We played as many games as we could, we were undefeated up until that last goal and, not to take anything away from them, I thought we deserved it.”

The Mavericks, NCAA runner-up in 2002, peppered Burns with 22 shots to the Falcons’ 10. An offside trap resulted in seven SPU offside calls. And the conditions had their effect.

“We were trying to attack and possess the ball, but some of our ideas could not be executed because of the wind,” said Sekyra. “It played a role, absolutely.”

Don Klosterman, the UNO coach, credited his team’s determination.

“One of the keys to our team is that it doesn’t always happen pretty. They work hard and they compete.”

Making the all-tournament team for Seattle Pacific were defenders Michelle Everson (Sr., Tacoma, Wa./Stadium) and Meredith Teague (Fr., Redmond, Wa./Bellevue Christian). In the semifinal win over Carson-Newman Thursday, Teague had scored one goal and had an assist.

Seattle Pacific is scheduled to arrive at SeaTac International Airport aboard Alaska flight 809 at 8:43 p.m. Sunday.

Scoring—1, SPU, Lienhard (Martinez) 7:24; 2, UNO, Richardson (unassisted) 9:52; 3, UNO, Beale (Richardson, Wegehaupt) 93:03.

Shots—UNO 22, SPU 10.

Saves—UNO (Price) 5, SPU (Burns) 4.

Corner kicks—UNO 5, SPU 8.

Fouls—UNO 9, SPU 12.

Offside—UNO 3, SPU 7.

Cautions—Pile, UNO, 3:10.

A—604.