Milwaukee needed two goals in the final minutes of the contest Sunday afternoon to defeat third-seed Oakland, 4-3, in the Horizon League women's soccer championship game.
Milwaukee trailed for a majority of the contest and did not hold its first lead until Kelly Lewers scored with 23 seconds left in regulation.
With a sudden death overtime looking almost certain, the Horizon League Player of the Year had other ideas as Lewers beat the Oakland goalie to score the game-winning goal. Kelsey Holbert and Krissy Dorre assisted on the play.
Oakland - which led for 43 minutes in the first half before Milwaukee tied the match right before haltime - led for most of the second half also.
The Golden Grizzlies took a 3-2 lead in the 81st minute after First-Team All-League selection, Sarah Reynolds, connected on a header in the box and Oakland looked primed to end Milwaukee's run of success. But five minutes later Milwaukee began its late-game heroics.
The Panthers scored the equalizer in the 86th minute when Holbert connected on a one-timer after a long pass from Amy Kauffung and three minutes later Lewers scored to send the Panthers to their sixth consecutive Horizon League title and 10th overall.
Oakland got off to a fast start as the Golden Grizzlies scored 1:16 into the match. Kyla Kellermann got Oakland on the board, collecting a rebound and beating Milwaukee goalkeeper Paige Lincicum to give Oakland a 1-0 lead.
The lead held up for almost the rest of the half until Milwaukee got on the board with 28 second left in the first period.
Maria Stephans scored the equalizer, collecting a pass from Callie O'Donnell and beating the goalkeeper to tie the score at one.
Just like the first half, Oakland got off to a fast start in the second as the Golden Grizzlies scored 1:29 into the second. Meghan Reynolds fielded a long pass from Kellermann and chipped it past the Oakland goalkeeper to give Oakland a 2-1 lead.
Dorre tied the match at two, connecting on a through ball from Stephans. It was Dorre's ninth goal of the season and with a goal and an assist Sunday she now leads the Horizon League with 24 points.
Lewers was named MVP of the tournament and was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammates Dorre, Holbert and Stephans.
Milwaukee will learn its NCAA opponent on Monday when the selection show airs on ncaa.com at 4:30 p.m. ET
All-Tournament Team
Ashley Gogolin, Wright State
Liz Soto, Wright State
Alyssa Riley, Detroit
Kaitlyn Quarrell, Detroit
Meghan Reynolds, Oakland
Kyla Kellermann, Oakland
Abbie Haelewyn, Oakland
Krissy Dorre, Milwaukee
Kelsey Holbert, Milwaukee
Maria Stephans, Milwaukee
Kelly Lewers, Milwaukee (MVP)
