DECATUR, Ala.—Facing a higher seed for the third straight game, No. 8-seeded Concordia University finally saw their championship journey end with a 3-0 loss to No. 3-seeded Lee University (Tenn.) in the 2011 NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship match on Saturday. 

 

After starting the season 1-3-0, the Cavaliers went on a 19-1-1 tear to finish the season, including outscoring its opponents 12-2 in the seven postseason matches prior to the final. With the loss, Concordia ends its season with a 20-5-1 overall mark after trying to become the lowest seeded team in capture the NAIA crown.

 

Meanwhile, the Lady Flames of Lee University became the first program to win four straight titles. Lee finished the season with a 21-match winning streak and ended the year with a 23-2-0 record.

 

“I was telling the team after the game that this was one of the most memorable tournament experiences for me personally,” CU head coach Grant Landy said. “How this team came together and the effort level they put in was truly something special.”

Facing a defense that has not allowed a goal in 10 full matches, Concordia faced an uphill battle after Lee’s Ashley Aragon connected on a loose ball in front of the net after being played in by teammate Leah Fortune in the 10th minute of action.

 

The duo swapped roles in the 24th minute with Aragona sending a cross from the 18-yard line to Fortune who used the pass to give the Lady Flames a 2-0 advantage midway through the opening half.

After being outshot 11-to-3 in the first, the Cavaliers generated six attempts in the second while pushing forward to find a spark. Senior co-captain Brittany Orr gave the Cavs its best chance late in the contest with a mid-ranged strike that ricocheted off the crossbar.   

 

Aragona, who was later named the MVP of the tournament, found the net for the second time of the day in the 62nd minute to essentially put the game away for the defending champions.  

“Lee was very good today. Sometimes you have to give credit where credit is due and I felt they outplayed us for major stretches of the game,” Landy said. “Having said that, our group continued to fight and claw for all 90 minutes and I truly appreciate that about this team.”

The Cavaliers earned entrance to the NAIA National Championship Final Site with a 1-0 win over Westminster (Utah) on Nov. 19. As the No. 8-seed, CU defeated No. 9 Spring Arbor 2-0 in the second round of play before tackling top-seeded Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) in the quarterfinals and No. 5-seeded Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) 4-0 in the semifinals.

 

Lee trounced its first five opponents by a 15-0 margin, including a 2-0 win over No. 2-seeded Azusa Pacific (Calif.) in the semifinals on Friday. Concordia fell to 0-4 all-time against Lee with three previous matches in postseason play, including a 3-0 loss in the 2008 final where Lee earned its first championship. The two teams also met early this season in a tournament in Portland with Lee coming out on top 1-0.

 “I was really proud how our seniors came together. I told Tahlia (O’Loughlin) that I thought this last stretch was her most consistent of the season,” Landy said. “Britt (Orr) and Jackie (Hendrickson) started their career and ended their career at the national final and not many players can say that. That speaks highly to their level of play, work ethic and intensity.”