The Women's Soccer team made CCU history this week at the NCCAA National Tournament defeating Oklahoma Baptist University 1-0 and being named the National Champions.
 
The Cougs came into the tournament as the #6 seed, winning their first two games in pool play and bumping out the #1 seed Grace College. The top four teams would compete in the semifinal match. Christian was reseeded as the #2 team going against the #4 team Houghton College. The Cougs defeated Houghton 3-0 in the semifinal match and was set to face Oklahoma Baptist University.
 
CCU and OKBU had battled each other in the NCCAA Regional Tournament hosted by Colorado Christian University in Lakewood CO in mid-November. In the 88^th minute the Cougs fouled in the box, causing for a penalty kick goal by Oklahoma which won the game 2-1. It was a heartbreaking loss for CCU at the time, but little did they know they would receive a national bid and see the Bisons once again in the championship game in Kissimmee, FL.
 
The very talented Okla. Baptist squad came out with a high level of urgency right from the start. Within the first 15 minutes of the game it didn't look good for blue and gold. The Bisons had taken four very aggressive shots against CCU, and the Cougs struggled to win the ball. Not much time later in the 19^th minute the Cougars found the ball and created an opportunity for freshman #23 Sarah Feller to take it all the way. It only takes one ball, one move, one play in soccer to make all the difference and Feller made that difference for Christian.
 
The talented young athlete, Sarah Feller won the ball off a Bison defender in the middle of the field and took it up to the 20 yard line where she drove a big boot to the back of Oklahoma's net. It landed right in the middle, over the goalies head in the very top. This was Feller's sixth goal of the season, five of which were all scored in the NCCAA National Tournament. Feller had two goals against John Wesley, and two against Houghton. Her efforts were truly remarkable in the post season play for Colorado Christian.
 
The Cougars did not have any goals scored against them in the tournament going 13-0 (goals). Senior goalie #00 Shaya Lawrence was the Cougars solid rock on defense. Lawrence had eight saves against OKBU, one being critical in the last minute of the game from a foul right outside the box. Kennady McCullough, Maddison Hogan, and Caitlyn Troupe were also huge factors to CCU's opponents having so much difficulty finding the net. Their relentless pressure and pursuit of the ball was flawless.
 
#11 Mariah Fredericks was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. The midfielder from North Dakota will leave CCU with an outstanding athletic career scoring 10 goals this season and leading her team to a national title. Along with Fredericks, three Cougars were named All-Tournament Team: Shaya Lawrence, Caitlyn Troupe, and Sarah Feller.

Colorado Christian Women's Soccer will end their 2016 season as the NCCAA DI Women's Soccer National Champions with a record of 13-8-3, the most games won ever in CCU Women's Soccer history.