[Box score] [Game-winning goal (video)]

AZUSA, Calif. - It took 12 shootout rounds but in the end it was a shot by PLNU's Kaycie Hanlin and the goal keeping of Tiffany Kracy that sends Point Loma to the final of the NCCAA west region tournament on Saturday.

Hanlin ended a drama-packed night with the sudden-death shot that allowed the Sea Lions to advance past host Azusa Pacific. Hanlin's kick in the shootout was the eighth to find the back of the net for PLNU, after APU missed an attempt moments earlier, to make the final tally 8-7. Kracy stopped four Cougars' shots during the shootout to lift PLNU to the win.

"It's always a battle whenever we face Azusa Pacific." said Point Loma head coach Tim Hall. "Either team deserved to win, but Tiffany was massive in the net for us during PKs and we got it done."

Hanlin's shot ended a long night for both teams. The score was tied 1-1 at the end of regulation and remained that way through two overtime periods. The Sea Lions, the #3 seed in the tournament, now travels to #1 seed California Baptist in the championship match on Saturday at Noon. The winner of that contest advances to the National Christian College Athletic Association national tournament in Kissammee, Florida (Nov. 28-Dec. 3).

Azusa Pacific got on the board first on a goal by Natalie Sun in the 75th minute. Heidi Witschi found Sun open at the top of the box, where she gathered the ball and deposited it in the right side of the net to put APU up 1-0.

Krista Gregory provided the equalizer for the Sea Lions in the 83rd minute to send the visitors into overtime. Kallie Caldwell connected with Gregory in the scrum in front of the net off a free kick from 45 yards out, and Gregory headed the ball into the net for her fifth goal of the season.

"The thing about this team is that when these women want something they don't go away easily," coach Hall explained. "While it is tough to get that goal it doesn't surprise me at all. These women create those opportunities and fight till the end. The service of the goal was great, and Krista getting her head on it was fantastic."

Towards the end of the first overtime Point Loma's Brooke Winklepleck nearly ending the match. Hanlin crossed the ball to the senior coming on the back side of the play, but Winklepleck's shot sailed just over the crossbar and the match moved to a second overtime period.

The Sea Lions escaped a trio of close calls in the first 45 minutes to keep the score tied at 0-0 at the half. The first was a free kick by Azusa Pacific that found Lynsey Brown one-on-one on the backside of the net but Tiffany Kracy slid over to make the save. The Cougars had another scoring opportunity in the 26th minute when Emily Wood received a cross in front of the net, however, her shot sailed high over the crossbar. The final close call came in the final minutes of the half when Amanda Hardy's shot slid along the front of the goal but did not cross the line.

PLNU's best scoring opportunity in the first half came in the 23rd minute. The Sea Lions found Madi White open on the far side of the net for a quick shot, but the ball sliced right of the net to keep the match scoreless.

"I am really proud of the girls," coach Hall added. "We got beat here last time but tonight we fought very hard. They inspired me tonight."

This is the fourth time in the past four seasons these teams have played an overtime match, with three of those coming down to a shootout. In 2009, PLNU knocked APU out of the GSAC playoffs with a 3-1 edge in the shootout. Azusa Pacific then won in overtime in 2010 (3-2) and then returned the favor to knock the Sea Lions out of the GSAC tournament on PKs last season (4-2).

Coach Hall says his team is very excited to face California Baptist for a third time this season. The teams split their previous two contest this year. 

"Cal Baptist is a great team but we are hungry and we are going to play our hearts out Saturday," said coach Hall.