In their first NJCAA National Tournament appearance, the Daytona State College women’s soccer team won the whole thing.
And it came in dramatic fashion.
The Falcons claimed the Division I championship with a 2-1 overtime victory over Arizona Western Saturday in Wichita, Kansas.
With the score tied 1-1 five minutes into the first overtime period, freshman Sienna Gillespie set up fellow freshman Shaneil Buckley with a pass, and Buckley buried a shot in the back of the net for the winning goal.
“This is an incredible moment for our program,” head coach Hope Clark said in a statement. “Our team worked tirelessly all season, and their determination, talent and unity truly shined on the national stage. I couldn’t be prouder of this group.”
Gillespie earned the tournament’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player award, and freshman goalkeeper Julianna Trujillo was named Tournament Most Valuable Player.
In the fifth minute Saturday, Gillespie gave Daytona State an early lead with the opening goal. Arizona Western tied it in the 32nd minute. Neither club scored in the second half.
After advancing through Pool B, the Falcons faced a similarly close game in the semifinals. They battled top-seeded Iowa Western into a penalty shootout, where Daytona State outlasted the Reivers.
It finished its season with a 19-3 record and on a 15-match winning streak. Its last loss was Sept. 20.
Daytona State is hosting a celebration for the Falcons, as they return from Wichita, at 4 p.m. Monday at their stadium.
