MEDFORD, Ore. – A valiant effort against an unbeaten, Top-10 team came up just short, as College of Idaho made an early second half goal stand up in a 1-0 victory over Oregon Tech in the title game of the Cascade Conference Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, at Wheeler Field.
 
The No. 10-ranked Coyotes (17-0-2) ran their unbeaten streak to 19 matches, while the Lady Owls had a 7-match winning streak snapped. Both teams will advance to next week's NAIA National Championships – with first-round match-ups to be announced on Saturday at 11 a.m.
 
Tech (15-5-1) battled toe-to-toe against the top offensive team in the CCC over the past 15 years. Keeper Sydni Nakamura kept the Lady Owls in the match, making a season-high nine saves – including a pair from point-blank range.
 
The Owls had quality chances in the first half – getting back-to-back corner kick opportunities in the 13th minute, one which was punched out by C of I keeper Alivia Brenchley. Carly Moss got a head on a free kick in the box midway through the period that missed high of the crossbar, with Jaylee Curran missing a 35-yard free kick high of the target just before the break.
 
C of I broke through in the opening minute of the second half, as Abbi Roubideaux played a low cross from the left side through traffic to the back corner of the box – finding an unmarked Eden Makaafi, who drove home a low 15-yard strike into the right-corner of the net.
 
OIT looked for the equalizer – but couldn't find the net. Brianna Lewis got behind the defense in the 64th minute, but her 20-yard drive was stopped by Brenchley, while in the 80th minute, Caneel Corpuz volleyed a corner kick from just outside the 6-yard-box high of the target.
 
The Coyotes finished with a 22-10 edge in shots and an 8-5 edge in corner kicks. It marked just the third time C of I had been held to one goal in a match this season