OKLAHOMA CITY – The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Central Region women's soccer championship tournament is being hosted by Mid-America Christian University this week, and the host Lady Evangels drew a tough test in the region semifinal. MACU faced defending NCCAA National Champion Colorado Christian University on Thursday, and in double overtime it was the Lady Evangels' leading scorer who provided the spark to help her team advance to the Regional Final.

Brittney Stephens scored her 20th goal of the season in the 103rd minute, as MACU (11-7) took a 1-0 win from Colorado Christian (6-10-2) to earn a spot in the championship match on Saturday afternoon.

Colorado Christian controlled the play for much of the first half. The Cougars out-shot MACU 6-1 in the opening frame, but the best chance to score came from Stephens. In the 13^th minute, Colorado Christian goalkeeper Ashleigh Maguire misplayed a clearance right to Stephens, who turned and fired a shot high on the near post. At the other end of the field, MACU's Jennifer Starwalt made three saves on relatively routine chances, and at intermission, the match remained scoreless.

MACU came out and began to turn the momentum early in the second stanza. Kelsey Janko recorded MACU's first shot on goal in the 52^nd minute – a shot which was saved by goalkeeper Ireland VanDyke who relieved Maguire at halftime – and the Evangels parlayed that into a pair of corner kicks, with Stephens and Allyson Pamplin following up with shots that VanDyke turned away. The play evened out over the final half hour, but MACU again got a dangerous chance with 7:22 to play. Riley took a free kick from 40 yards out, and VanDyke had to make a leaping save to keep the match scoreless. Colorado Christian got one more good chance late in the half, but Sara Feller's shot went wide with 31 seconds to play, and the match headed to overtime scoreless.

Starwalt made the only save of the first overtime, stopping a free kick from Lauren Cardoza just under two minutes into the extra session, but neither team recorded a shot in the next eight minutes, and the match went to a second overtime. In the 103^rd minute, The Evangels began the breakout up the right wing side, and Pamplin played a beautiful one-touch pass through to spring Stephens on the break away. Stephens sprinted in and blasted a shot into the left side netting, ending the game and sending MACU to the regional final.

The goal was Stephens' 20^th of the season – which sets a new MACU single season record for goals – and the assist was the sixth of the season from Pamplin. Starwalt (9-6) earned the win in goal for the Evangels, making five saves in the match, and VanDyke (2-6-2) was tagged with the loss after playing 57:10 in relief of Maguire.

MACU advances to play the Southwestern Assemblies of God University Lions (11-8) in the regional title match on Saturday at 2 p.m. The two teams played at MACU on October 24^th, with SAGU claiming a 2-1 win on that day. The winner will advance to the NCCAA Division I Women's Soccer National Championships, which will be played in Kissimmee, Florida from November 27-December 2.