It's an all-Southern California final in the NAIA women's soccer championships after archrivals Azusa Pacific and Westmont captured semifinal victories Monday at St. Charles, Mo.
Westmont (19-1-3), the defending champion, pounded Union, Ky., 4-0, and Azusa Pacific (16-3-0) edged host Lindenwood, 1-0, in overtime. Both games were played in sub-freezing temperatures.
Tuesday's championship game will be the third meeting between the Warriors and Cougars this season. Westmont won both previous matches, capturing a 2-0 Golden State Athletic Conference clash in Santa Barbara on Oct. 12, then edging the Cougars, 1-0, in Azusa in the NAIA Region II title game on Nov. 16.
Azusa Pacific won the GSAC title after Westmont was upset by Concordia-Irvine and held to a tie by Hope International.
Westmont, which is looking for its fourth NAIA crown and third in four years, was led against Union by sisters Karin and Kristi Sullivan. Kristi scored two goals, a sixth-minute header from a free kick and a 70th-minute volley off a cross from Karin, who had a 38th-minute goal and also assisted on Janel Kaden's 77th-minute strike.
Union (12-11-1) suffered its first loss on the field. The Lady Bulldogs were 21-1-2 on the field but forfeited nine victories and a tie for use of an ineligible player.
Azusa Pacific, which fell on penalty kicks to Oklahoma City in last year's semifinals, topped Lindenwood on Erin Arbizu's 92nd-minute rocket from 18 yards. The goal was her third of the NAIA Tournament and 18th of the season.
Lindenwood finished 19-2-2.