Box Score
NCCAA Release

The Lady Bruins rushed the field in celebration on Saturday night as the team defeated Grace Bible College 2-0 to capture their second straight NCCAA DII National Championship.

"We knew we needed to keep playing the way we've been playing," Head Coach Chris Carmichael said. "Grace played an unbelievable match. I really respect what they were doing and the way they are building that program."

The team entered the national tournament with the #1 seed and won the semi-final match with a 3-0 victory over #4 seeded Randall University. The Tigers of GBC came into the tournament as the #2 seed and advanced to the championship match after defeating Maranatha Baptist University in penalty shootout 4-3.

As the two teams took the field at Austin-Tindall Park in Kissimmee, Florida, the fans were out in full voice to support their teams knowing that a champion would be crowned at the end of the night.

In the opening minutes, the Bruins had several chances on frame as they were able to move the ball effectively into the attacking third. Natasha Walters and Abby Davis pressured the Tigers defense but the team wasn't able to find the back of the net. Defensively, the Bruins were able to limit the Tigers offense as Ally Jenkins and Kaitlyn Hummel helped to turn aside opportunities.

At the midway point of the first half, the Bruins broke into the scoring column as Megan Brubaker bent a corner kick into the box and Abby Davis redirected the ball into the net to put the Bruins on top 1-0. Just minutes later, Davis scored again as she made a run down the outside of the defense and bent a shot over the top of the Tigers keeper to add to the Bruins lead 2-0.

From there, the Tigers tried to claw their way back in the game but couldn't mount any serious threat as the Bruins took a 2-0 lead into the break. "We knew we needed to press them and get possession on that end," Coach Carmichael said. "That possession allowed some good combination play which opened up opportunities for us."

In the second half, the Bruins again came out strong with good possession as they moved into position to score. The team got great play from their midfielders who helped control the pace and tempo of the game. Abby Davis almost completed the hat trick as she beat the defense and fired a shot which was blocked by the keeper and was nearly scored by Sarah Herr on the rebound but her shot hit the crossbar.

With the match inching closer to its conclusion, the Tigers went on the attack as they desperately fought to get back into the game. The Bruins defense stood strong and turned aside last ditch efforts by GBC.

As the final buzzer sounded, the Bruins players celebrated in excitement as the team captured their second straight national title with a 2-0 win. "This is a great bunch of players," Coach Carmichael said. "They really have a special bond with one another and work so hard. They make my job easy. We're going to miss our seniors and it will be tough to fill their shoes." 

Abby Davis scored two goals in the match and was named the tournament's most outstanding player. Kaitlyn Hummel, Ally Jenkins and Sarah Herr were also named to the all-tournament team.

It was certainly a memorable season for the Lady Bruins as the team had many highs and lows throughout the year. Despite the pressure of playing as the defending national champion, the Lady Bruins played through the pressure to emerge again at the top of the NCCAA.