Champions! Warriors Win GPAC Title in Double Overtime

FREMONT, Neb. – In front of one of the largest crowds for soccer at Heedum Field, Midland University hosted Dordt University in the 2023 Great Plains Athletic Conference Championship on Friday Night. After a hard-fought battle through regulation, with the score tied a 3-3, the teams played a pair of overtime periods to decide the winner. In the first extra period, the Warriors netted the eventual game-winner and then held defensively to defeat the Defenders for the 2023 GPAC Postseason Championship. It is Midland's first women's soccer championship since 2019.

Things got going quickly as Dordt took just 23 seconds to find the game's opening goal. Battling it out, Midland found the equalizer goal in the 40th minute, as Caytlynn Garland fought her way past the Defenders to send the ball soaring past the keeper. After 45 minutes of action, Midland and Dordt were tied 1-1.

After the intermission, the Defenders broke the tie in the 64th minute to retake the lead, 2-1 early in the second half. Their lead was short-lived as Hanna Schimmer found the feet of Tia Benjamin in the 70th minute to bring the game back to a 2-2 tie.

Shortly after, the Warriors got an opportunity with a corner kick. Sydney Herren took the corner and bent it into the back of the net in the 72nd minute, giving MU its first lead, 3-2.

With time winding down, the Defenders were gifted a golden opportunity as the Warriors were whistled for a handball inside the box in the 86th minute. Dordt pulled even with the equalizing goal, 3-3, forcing the game into two overtime periods.

Midland came out to battle in extra time as it took advantage of another corner kick chance in the early part of the first overtime. Herren found the head of Addison Castellanos, who found the back of the net, in the 93rd minute to give the Warriors the eventual game-winning goal. Midland's defense held strong for the final 17 minutes to earn the conference title and a trip to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time since 2019.

"This team has faced adversity all season and we knew tonight would be a battle," said head coach Tatum Tremain after the match. "Dordt sure did put up a fight. The way the team handled the challenge and had each other's backs shows how strong they are. They have lots more to accomplish, and I can't wait to see it."

Midland had a massive statistical edge in the match, outshooting Dordt 37 to 15 with 14 total shots on goal. The Warriors had a slight edge in corner kicks, 8-6, and were whistled for one foul more than the Defenders, 11-10.

"I like to give a special thanks to all the fans who came out to support the team tonight," added Coach Tremain. "It was a fantastic atmosphere! They brought tremendous energy to the team and to the game. It's great to be a Warrior!"

Midland (13-4-4) has punched its ticket to the national tournament. The team will learn who and where they will play on Monday when the national office reveals the field of 48 teams for the 2023 NAIA Championship Tournament at noon. Tournament play will begin with the First Round on Thursday, November 16 at campus sites around the nation. Joining the Warriors from the GPAC will be Hastings College, who won the regular-season championship.