The Lady Bruins 2014 soccer season has come to an end as the team was upset by Clearwater Christian College 1-0 in the NCCAA DII South Regional Championship. "We played a very hard fought match," Coach Chris Carmichael said. "I am very proud of their achievements this year and I will sorely miss our seniors and the opportunity to keep working with them. They will leave huge shoes to fill."
The team had secured the #1 seed in the region after defeating Clearwater Christian 1-0 two weeks ago and then following it up with a 1-0 victory over Toccoa Falls College. The Cougars had defeated Toccoa Falls College 2-0 on Thursday night to setup a rematch of last year's regional and national championship game.
In the opening minutes, the two teams came out strong with a trip to the national tournament on the line. The Bruins were able to use good combination play to move into the attacking third, but the team didn't get many good opportunities on frame. At the midway point of the half, the Bruins were called for a penalty just inside the box giving Crusaders Heidi Ruth a penalty shot. On the ensuing kick, Tori Anderson made a brilliant save but the rebound fell right back at the feet of Ruth who finished the play to put the Cougars up 1-0. Clearwater would take the 1-0 lead into the half with just 45 minutes separating them from returning to the national tournament.
The Bruins knew they would have to pull out all the stops to gain the equalizer. In the second half, the team possessed well and moved the ball towards the Cougars net. With the lead, the Cougars moved most of their players back to shore up their defensive line. BJU tried several maneuvers to try to break through but to no avail.
As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the Bruins knew that their opportunity for repeating as NCCAA national champions was coming to a close. The final buzzer signaled the end of the match and the end of the 2014 season as the Bruins fell 1-0 to Clearwater.
"It has been an extreme honor to be this team's coach," Coach Carmichael said. "Honestly, there isn't another team I would rather coach. They are remarkable people and a very talented group that I know will learn from this experience. This program continues to get better because of the friendships forged and the dedication they have to this team."
With the loss, the Bruins finish the season at 12-5-2. Despite having one of the best records in the nation, the at large bid this year is not available due to all NCCAA DII regions having at least one team qualifying for the tournament. Although the team will be saddened with this loss, their tenacity in overcoming injuries and obstacles this season is something to be admired. Though they will not be called "champions" on the field this year, their testimony and passion for Christ on and off the field is something we all can learn from and be proud of.
