COLLEGE WOMEN: Oneonta State rallies for first D3 title

• by Soccer America , Nov 30, 2003

Brooke Davis scored in the final minute to force overtime and Sanada Mujanovic tallied nearly three minutes into the extra period as Oneonta State rallied to beat Chicago, 2-1, in Sunday's NCAA Division III women's soccer final at Oneonta, N.Y.

The title was the first in any team sport for the Red Dragons (21-1-3), who needed penalty kicks to get through its NCAA tournament opener and won each of its next four games by a goal.

''I knew in August that this team was special ...,'' said Oneonta head coach Tracey Ranieri. ''So many years and much hard work has gone into this moment. It is very rewarding and satisfying to accomplish your goals. This team kept its focus all year on its goal and now they know the feeling of being the best.''

Chicago (17-2-4), which eliminated Oneonta State from the NCAA tournament last year, was 29 seconds from its first women's soccer championship when Davis netted her 11th goal of the season and third in as many matches. Maroons goalkeeper Andrea Przybysz couldn't handle Rose Velan's free kick, and the ball bounced off her foot and toward the top of the penalty area. Davis' low shot found an open net.

Mujanovic's 93rd-minute winner came off a cross that carried into the upper-left corner of the goal.

''It's the worst feeling I've ever had in my coaching experience,'' Chicago coach Amy Reifert said. ''We were 30 seconds from winning a national championship. This feeling will stay with me forever.''

Chicago got its goal in the 32nd minute, with Jacqui DeLeon heading home Misa Bretschneider's cross.

NCAA DIVISION III
Final
Sunday, Nov. 30 at Oneonta, N.Y.
Oneonta State 2 (Davis 90, Mujanovic 93) Chicago 1 (DeLeon 32) (OT)