SAN DIEGO — The Point Loma Nazarene University women’s soccer team is celebrating a historic championship victory.
The Sea Lions defeated Washburn on Saturday 1-0, winning the NCAA Divison II Women’s Soccer National Championship trophy. The victory is PLNU’s first NCAA national championship in any sport in university history. The team made it through the NCAA bracket without giving up a single goal.
Emma Thrapp’s header helped to cement PLNU’s victory on Saturday.
"Last year, some of our teams got close. Basketball got close. The year before baseball got really close. You know, a lot of us were at those games watching. And just the excitement of just sitting in the stands and watching and then to actually be the team to do is so exciting," Thrapp said.
Following the match, Thrapp was named the NCAA Championship’s most valuable player.
When asked if this championship was a realistic goal all season, Kristie Kiely, PLNU coach said, "Not a surprise. But I think you can never be certain either. And so it is a special group. And I think we felt that all the way back to last spring, the fact that it's the first national title in school history."
"We're grateful to get to play this game, but it's a game. And so we have to keep that in perspective. You know, a good chunk of this group went to Africa in May. And I think there's some perspective there, you have the opportunity to get an education, and to do something we love with a bunch of people we love. And that is a gift," Coach Kiely added.
"I think going to Africa and being able to experience the sport in a different way, really put into perspective, what truly matters about the sport," Bethany Arabe, PLNU forward said about the season. "And so I think by going on that trip and seeing how much joy and care and love can come from the sport of soccer, we've implemented that in our team. And I think that's what brought us to the national championship. But I think that's the sweet thing about winning this national championship. It's memories that will last forever. And I think that's the sweet thing is that we don't know how special it is until years from now."
On Sunday, dozens of fans welcomed the soccer team home, ready to celebrate the team’s historic victory.
According to the university, Point Loma (17-3-1 overall) sets a new program record for most wins in a single season in its NCAA era.
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