On Thursday November 16^th, the Colorado Christian women's soccer team set out to defend their NCCAA Championship in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on a windy and chilly afternoon against the Mid-America Christian University Evangels. The Cougars ended their regular season with a record of 6-9-2 overall, and 3-7-2 in RMAC play. The Evangels finished their regular season with a 10-7 record, and 5-5 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. The two teams had met four times previously, all of which came in the NCCAA Regional Tournament and the series was split at two wins each.
 
The first half of the game was controlled largely by the Cougars who took six shots in the first 45 minutes and allowed just one. Freshman Ashleigh Maguire started the game in goal for the Cougars for what would be her 11^th start. Although the Cougars dominated statistically, they would go into the locker rooms at halftime tied at zero.
 
Harking back to early on in the season head coach Tammy McPherson switched goalies at halftime and brought in fellow freshman Ireland VanDyke. The second half played out to be a different story, with the Evangels getting off seven shots and forcing VanDyke to save five of them. Most notably, VanDyke made an impressive one-on-one save just 10 minutes into the second half off a MACU breakaway. At the end of regulation, the score remained tied at 0-0 and the teams prepared for overtime, and potentially penalty kicks.
 
The first overtime saw just one shot on goal and that was taken by Cougar senior Lauren Cardoza in the second minute that was saved by the MACU keeper. The Evangels nearly had a breakaway opportunity in the fifth minute of overtime, but the attacker was called off-side at the last second to avoid what would have likely been a clean run and shot attempt.
 
The second overtime saw freshman VanDyke facing a very familiar situation; defending against potential sudden death shots in overtime for the sixth time this season. It didn't take long for MACU to make their run and challenge VanDyke. In the 103rd minute of play MACU junior forward Brittney Stephens received a pass right around mid-field, made one move and was off to the races. With nothing between her and ending the game except for VanDyke, Stephens launched a rocket of a shot from the right side of the box towards the left post and netted the game winner, her 20^th goal of the season. Stephens also took the shot in the second half against VanDyke that was saved, but this time she switched sides and gave the Evangels the win.
 
The loss brings CCU's record to 6-10-2 on the season and ends the Cougars NCCAA Regional Tournament run.

After the conclusion of all of the games on Thursday, the NCCAA All-Region team was announced and four Cougars were among those honored. Senior Lauren Cardoza and junior Kennady McCullough were named to the 1^st Team All-Region, while senior Sheridan Spelman and sophomore Madison Hogan were given 2^nd Team All-Region honors.