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POMONA, Calif. - One word can be used to describe No. 3 Cal State East Bay's run to the 2021 CCAA Women's Soccer Championship; Clutch.
 
After winning its first-round match in a shootout, the Pioneers upset the No. 2 seed in overtime in the semifinals. Then today they overcame a second-half deficit with two goals in two minutes to defeat the No. 1 seed Sonoma State 2-1 and claim the first CCAA Women's Soccer Tournament Championship in program history.
 
The Pioneers once again found their backs against the wall when the 2021 CCAA Defensive Player of the Year, Julia Pritchard, scored on a penalty kick in the 50th minute to give Sonoma the lead deep into the match. The Seawolves had not lost a game all season when leading in the second half or when scoring first. But East Bay was ready for the challenge.
 
Payton Heaney delivered the equalizer in the 61st minute when her teammate Riley Spitzer set her up for a run toward the left post. Heaney dribbled the ball into the box, and with the outside of her right foot. She poked it past the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper for her first score of the season.
 
The game-winner came exactly two minutes later on an outstanding play by the tournament's Most Valuable Offensive Player, Kelsey Pena. Her teammate, Kylie Newman, tried to send a long pass diagonally to the other side of the field, near the box. It appeared to be an errant pass as a Sonoma State defender was waiting to kick it away.
 
Then, out of nowhere, Pena dashed into the picture. She took advantage of the slightest hesitation by the defender to cut in front and seize possession with only the keeper to beat.  She went with the right foot and rocketed it past the keeper for her third goal of the season.
   
Sonoma State kept the pressure on for the next 27 minutes, but the Cal State East Bay defense and keeper Jordan Smith were able to thwart all their attempts. Smith would go on to be named the Most Valuable Defensive Player in the women's tournament. She allowed just one goal in three matches that included four different overtimes. She also helped Cal State East Bay win the shootout in the first round with a save on the final shot.
 
Cal State East Bay was able to make this run to the championship in their first-ever appearance in the CCAA Women's Soccer Tournament. They also earned the CCAA's automatic bid to the NCAA West Regional, which will begin on Thursday, Nov. 18.
 
Sonoma State, who was No. 4 in the latest regional rankings, is expected to receive an at-large bid to the regional. The Seawolves are now 0-7 all-time in the finals of the CCAA Women's Soccer Tournament.
 
Both teams will find out their fate on Monday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m. during the NCAA Selection Show on NCAA.com.

2021 CCAA Women's Soccer All-Tournament Team
Emma Hofmann, Chico State
Irma Pinzon, Cal State LA
Payton Heaney, Cal State East Bay
Riley Spitzer, Cal State East Bay
Tami Kwong, Cal State East Bay
Kylie Newman, Cal State East Bay
Julia Prichard, Sonoma State
Andrea Lozano, Sonoma State
Olivia Aschbrenner, Sonoma State
CCAA Tournament Most Valuable Defensive Player - Jordan Smith, Cal State East Bay
CCAA Tournament Most Valuable Offensive Player - Kelsey Pena, Cal State East Bay