Championship Box Score
Photo Gallery
OGDEN, Utah - This is why Cee Odorfer endured the countless hours of rehab.
The junior co-MVP of the Big Sky Conference scored the game-winning goal Saturday, lifting Northern Arizona to a 2-1 win over No. 1 seed Weber State in the Championship game of the league tournament here.
Odorfer missed the 2004 season with a knee injury, missed the 2007 season with an injury, and hasn't practiced in a month because of another knee injury. But it was Odorfer who pounded home a loose ball in the 84th minute following a corner kick as the Lumberjacks won their first ever Big Sky tournament title.
"Brenna Boies had a great corner kick,'' Odorfer said. " Kristi Andreassen got in and kind of touched it out. I just was lucky to be in the right place at the right time. This was a great team effort. I'm really proud of these girls.
"There were a lot of people who wondered if it was worth coming back,'' said Odorfer, from Prescott, Ariz. "Having this championship now, the first one in school history, with these girls, I wouldn't miss this for the world. This has been great.''
Northern Arizona will represent the Big Sky Conference in the NCAA College Cup. The pairings will be announced on Monday at 6 p.m. on ESPNEWS.
Northern Arizona entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed. The Lumberjacks (12-6-3) beat Portland State 1-0 in a semifinal on Thursday. Northern Arizona had lost championship matches in 1999, 2000 and 2005. The 2005 loss came to Weber State under current coach Andre Luciano.
"This is a culmination of all the hard work these kids have put in,'' said Luciano, who is in his eighth season. "All season long this has been our goal, and we were confident we were going to win it. Let's give Weber State, Tim Crompton and all their coaches so much credit. Their kids fought so hard. It's always a battle between Weber State and Northern Arizona. But for us to win our first one, this feels awesome. This is the players' moment."
Northern Arizona took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute on a goal by Brenna Boies. The high shot was tipped in the air by Weber State keeper Rebecca Ritchie. As the ball came down, it spun into the net.
Weber State (9-10-2) tied the match in the 59th minute on a goal credited to Molli Nelson. The ball deflected off a Northern Arizona player.
Both teams had shots hit the post prior to Odorfer's game-winning goal. Odorfer was named the tournament MVP.
"I feel like I've known (Cee Cee) my whole life,'' Luciano said. "She's been with me for so long. It's fitting. Great players persevere through the toughest of moments. She hasn't practiced in the last month with an MCL sprain, and she scored her most important goal at the right time. I love that kid. I've been with that kid through thick and thin. It's very fitting.''
All-Tournament Team
MVP - Cee Cee Odorfer, Northern Arizona
Tori Howe, Northern Arizona
Tori Rocke, Northern Arizona
Rebekah Schmit, Northern Arizona
Sam Monahan, Northern Arizona
Brenna Boies, Northern Ariozna
Hayley McCoy, Weber State
Whitney Smith, Weber State
Ashtyn Webster, Weber State
Molli Nelson, Weber State
Sara Aspinwall, Montana
Dolly Enneking, Portland State