BY BRIAN GOSSET
DALLAS – #1 Dallas Baptist rallied in regulation and then got the golden goal by Aledo grad McKenna Vela less than a minute left in overtime to beat UC-Colorado Springs 3-2 on Sunday at Patriots Field. DBU advances to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2021.
The Patriots improved to 20-1.
Less than 70 seconds in the match, DBU went up 1-0 on a Vela to Anna Louthan goal just outside the box. UCCS tied it in the 39th minute and both teams went into the intermission even at 1-1.
In the 47th minute, UCCS went ahead 2-1 with Emily Aguilar’s second goal.
Shortly after, DBU tied it at 2-2 with Louthan’s second goal – finishing off an assist from Flower Mound grad Riley Olsen. The Patriots had multiple chances to retake the lead, but the game eventually went into overtime.
52 seconds into extra time, Vela netted the game-winner inside the box off the pass from Kennedale grad Angelina Olmos, who set a program record with her 29th career assist.
Vela’s goal was her fourth game-winning goal of the season and her 14th overall. The Aledo grad is up to 14 goals and 10 assists this season. The junior forward was a three-year letterwinner for the Ladycats. She made the Lone Star Conference All-Freshman Team in 2023.
DBU outshot UCCS 20-11 and its 20 wins matches the 2021 team for most wins in a season.
The Patriots won the South Central Regional Championship and will play in the National Quarterfinals for the third time in program history. They will take on defending champ #4 Cal Poly Pomona at home on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3 pm.
Cal Poly Pomona is 17-2-3 after beating Azusa Pacific 1-0 on Saturday Nov. 29. The Broncos beat Minnesota State 2-1 last season for their first NCAA D2 national championship in program history.
Here are DFW players on the DBU roster:
Kenzi Tufts, Southlake Carroll
Sam Jones, Frisco Independence
Angelina Olmos, Kennedale
Skylar Belanger, Keller
Abigail Santos, Duncanville
Elise Borders, Highland Park
Riley Olsen, Flower Mound
Carly Gekas, Flower Mound
Kylar Coffman, Mansfield
Reagan Roberson, Coppell
McKenna Vela, Aledo
Parker Coe, Hebron
Mikaela Garcia, Mansfield
Chandler Wheat, Midlothian Heritage
