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SEASIDE, Calif. - Cal State San Marcos made Nani Kia'aina's 18th-minute goal hold up to earn the program's first CCAA Women's Soccer Tournament Championship with a 1-0 win over the No. 1 seed, Cal Poly Pomona. (Nov. 12)

The run for the Cougars came on a great pair of individual plays Kai'aina and Diana Mendoza. After pressing the Broncos and forcing a slight retreat of their offense past midfield, Mendoza stepped forward from her line and intercepted a pass in the middle. She took it 30 yards before laying a through-ball perfectly between three defenders to find Kai'aina. She took two touches to her right and fired a shot into the top left of the net. For that goal and her efforts on Friday, Kai'aina was named the Tournament's Offensive MVP. 
 
From there the Cougars' defense took over. They did not yield a goal in the entire tournament, including the 90 minutes on Sunday. The Broncos' took a shot on goal in the fourth minute, which goalkeeper Allison Marcure stopped. She would not have to make another stop till the 52nd minute of the second half as the Cougars' defense, led by the Tournament's Defensive MVP Natalie Paulson, limited their looks on goal. Marcure made that stop and another in the 64th minute, but CPP would not put another one on frame.
 
The win earns Cal State San Marcos women's soccer their first CCAA Championship of any type. They missed the CCAA Tournament last year, and were picked sixth in the preseason coaches pull. Their season started slow but they came together in conference play. They have been undefeated since Sept. 23, putting together a 12-match unbeaten streak and carrying that momentum to a second-place finish and tournament title. The Cougars will now represent the CCAA in the NCAA West Regional for the first time in since joining the conference in 2015.
 
Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State LA and Chico State are all hoping to receive an at-large selection to next week's six-team NCAA West Regional. The seeds will be announced on the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, Nov. 13 at 3:30 p.m.