MEDFORD, Ore. - Facing a two-goal deficit less than 15 minutes into the match, No. 20 The College of Idaho women's soccer team stormed back with three unanswered goals, including the sudden victory goal in overtime, to defeat Southern Oregon 3-2 and claim its fourth consecutive Cascade Conference Championship Tournament presented by U.S. Bank title at Wheeler Field.
The victory adds another chapter to a remarkable era of dominance for the Yotes, who have now captured four straight CCC Tournament Championships to go along with four consecutive CCC regular-season crowns.
Things looked bleak early.
Southern Oregon struck first in the 11th minute when Ava Johnson buried a shot into the lower left corner off an assist from Tori Lasch to give the Raiders a 1-0 advantage. Just 3:28 later, Abby McKean doubled the lead, heading home a corner kick from Macie Yannoni for a 2-0 Southern Oregon cushion in the 15th minute.
Remarkably, those two goals would also be Southern Oregon's final two shots on goal of the entire match.
From that point forward, the field tilted entirely toward the Yotes.
The breakthrough came in the 28th minute when Abbi Roubidoux finished off an Alondra Osuna corner, skipping the ball in at the back post to cut the deficit to 2-1 and breathe life back into the College of Idaho attack.
The Yotes continued to pour on pressure throughout the second half, firing shots from every angle and forcing Southern Oregon goalkeeper Ashlyn Fuss into save after save. Fuss delivered a tremendous performance between the posts, recording 11 saves to keep the Raiders in front despite a relentless College of Idaho attack that produced 32 shots and 14 shots on goal.
The equalizer finally arrived in the 76th minute.
Claire Busse chipped a ball into the penalty area, where Shaelyn Olsen redirected it to Rylee Russell. Russell made no mistake, heading the ball into the net to level the match at 2-2 and send the Yotes faithful into a frenzy.
College of Idaho kept coming.
The Yotes struck the post in regulation, generated a flurry of late chances and nearly ended the contest several times before overtime. Then, with the match nearing the end of the first extra period, Osuna delivered one more dangerous service into the box. Russell collected the cross, took two touches and tucked the winner just inside the left post in the 100
th minute, completing the comeback and securing another championship trophy for the Yotes.
Russell finished with two goals, while Roubidoux added the first-half tally. Osuna assisted two goals in a standout playmaking performance.
By reaching the championship match, Southern Oregon secured the CCC's second automatic berth into the NAIA National Championship Opening Round, while the Yotes had already locked up the conference's first automatic qualifier by virtue of winning the regular-season title.
The College of Idaho (17-3) and Southern Oregon University (12-3-5) will now await its postseason destination for the NAIA First and Second Rounds. The NAIA National Championship Selection Show is scheduled for Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. MT and will stream live on the NAIA YouTube channel.