Warriors' Bid for National Tourney Comes Up Just Short

Warriors' Bid for National Tourney Comes Up Just Short

Des Moines, Iowa -- Amelia Fullmer's goal with two minutes remaining in the second overtime put an end to a classic championship contest between Iowa Western and Indian Hills on Sunday for the ICCAC postseason tournament title and a trip to the Division I national tourney. Iowa Western's Fullmer scored off a pass from Kate Reddish in the match's 108th minute to break the hearts of the upstart Warriors, who were trying to extend the best season in the program's history.

Each team got a shutout victory in Saturday's semifinals, setting the stage for the tournament finale.

Iowa Western struck first when Eva Castano scored off a cross from Reddish with a one-touch finish in the 17th minute.

Two minutes into the second half Indian Hills got the equalizer when Stephanie Faust headed in a corner cross from Mel Shepherd, Faust's second goal of the season. She was named the Defensive Player of the Tournament.

The game stayed 1-1 through the remaining 43 minutes of regulation and the first ten-minute overtime session. And it was still tied at 1-all after the first eight minutes of the second OT before Fullmer put an end to IHCC's title chances.

IHCC was outshot 16-7. Goalkeeper Sophie Ledger had five saves for the Warriors.

Indian Hills ended the year with a 16-4-1 record. The win total was six more than last year and equaled the total number of victories for the women's program over the past five years combined.

Shepherd and Ellena Finneran joined Faust on the All-Tournament team.