Box Score For the first time in program history, the Lady Bruins are NCCAA DII South Region champions! The team battled to a double-overtime win in penalty shootout over Toccoa Falls College to punch their ticket to the national tournament. 

"It was a battle all the way through," Coach Chris Carmichael said. "I have to hand it to Toccoa Falls, they have given us a great match every time we play them. We were able to maintain our composure and work hard and we finished it off in the PK round." 
 
 

The Bruins entered the regional championship on Saturday after defeating Johnson University of Florida 8-0 in the semi-final round. Their opponent was the Toccoa Falls College Screaming Eagles, who had split the season series with the Bruins 1-1, and had defeated Trinity Baptist College to setup a clash of the two powerhouse programs in the NCCAA south region. Both teams took the pitch with a trip to the national tournament on the line and the chance to be crowned region champions. 

In the opening minutes of play, the Bruins possessed well and had a good transition of inside out to extend the field and move into position to score. Abby Davis and Paige Englehart had several chances on frame, but each shot sailed just wide. The Bruins continued to control possession, while defensively the back line stood strong. With minutes remaining in the half, Abby Davis found a seam in the Eagles defense and had an opportunity to give the Bruins the lead, but her shot was deflected wide as time expired with both teams ending the half as it began 0-0. 

In the second half, the Bruins came out looking to gain the upper hand and continued to dominate possession. Englehart and Davis continued to find lanes for looks on goal, but Emily Truelove made several key saves for the Eagles throughout the match. In the 83rd minute of play, Jenn Wise was fouled just outside the box but her ensuing free kick sailed just over the crossbar as the teams were still even. As final seconds counted down, the Bruins mounted one last effort but the shot was again deflected out to keep the scoreless draw 0-0 and send the teams into overtime. 

The Bruins had outshot the Eagles by a wide margin, but the team knew all too well that one mistake could cost them the region title. Paige Englehart had a golden opportunity after a deflected ball found her feet just in front of the net. Her shot sailed just wide. The Eagles generated a golden opportunity of their own as a shot ricocheted off the post and went wide. The second overtime period produced the same result as the two teams prepared to determine a winner in a penalty shootout. 

Spencer Martin took the first opportunity for the Bruins and fired a well-placed bending shot past Truelove to give the Bruins a 1-0 advantage. Elizabeth Mattison took her place for the Eagles, but her penalty shot was block by an excellent save by Bruins' keeper Jessica Baun. The Bruins then looked to Miriam Lozano as their next shooter and she didn't disappoint as her shot found the back of the net to increase the lead to 2-0.

The Eagles looked to find an answer in Lizz Rice as she had the Bruins number so many times this season. Her shot sailed over the top corner of the net to keep the advantage 2-0 Bruins. With a chance to land the knockout blow, Coach Carmichael sent Jenn Wise up to take the penalty. She struck a confident penalty kick and it went just past Truelove to give the Bruins a 3-0 lead. 

The Eagles had one last chance to climb back into the game, but Nicole Cooprider's shot sailed over the net as the Bruins erupted in celebration as they captured the 2015 NCCAA DII South Region title with a 1-0 victory over Toccoa Falls College.

"We told them to pick a spot and don't change it and Jessica did great, she won the game for us," Coach Carmichael said. "Our ultimate goal was to win regionals and get to nationals so this is just the first step. We know we have a lot more work to do and we'll continue to focus on the ultimate prize at the national tournament." 

The Bruins outshot the Eagles 28-5 throughout the contest including 9 shots on frame. Jessica Baun was the hero of the match for the Bruins as she held the Eagles scoreless to keep the clean sheet. With the win, the Bruins win the region championship and will play in the national tournament November 11-14 in Kissimmee, Florida.