“Being able to make history at Wash. U. is an incredible feeling although we always want to acknowledge the people who came before us,” senior co-captain Carter Schwarberg said. “We’re playing for the Wash. U. family which is definitely bigger than just this team.”

Wash. U. struck first with a goal by Julie Tembunkiart in the waning minutes of the first half. A loft pass by classmate Laura McGinnis set up the score that found the bottom far corner of the net. “Laura passed it to me right in front of the goal. I was able to trap it with my thigh and slip it to the right past the keeper who came out to steal it from my foot,” Tembunkiart said.

The Lynchburg Hornets came back, capitalizing on a corner kick that was ruled an own goal by Wash. U. just 6 minutes into the second half. The two teams would compete with several shots off the goal post. Despite that, the 1-1 tie was not broken in regulation or in double overtime, forcing a shootout.

Freshman goalkeeper Clara Jaques saved the first shot while senior Libby Held’s penalty kick was blocked. “Today was much scarier than the penalty shootout against Wheaton. The Final Four is not just another game like some people tell you,” Jaques said. “I knew I needed to make a couple of saves to keep it in.”

Both sides traded penalty kicks, with senior Caryn Rosoff and sophomore Lee Ann Felder scoring for Wash. U. Sophomore Emma Brown’s shot was also stopped by the Hornet goalkeeper, but senior Becca Heymann found the top-right corner of the net. Jaques came up with the next save and Schwarberg stepped up for the deciding penalty. Earlier in the game, Schwarberg received a yellow card for a foul.

Schwarberg’s shot found the net sparking a celebration as her teammates rushed her. “Carter especially put the exclamation point at the end for what she’s done for this team emotionally all year,” head coach Jim Conlon said.

A group of students traveled down from St. Louis in a Wash. U.-sponsored fan bus on Thursday night. “It’s amazing to know that we have that many people supporting us and that the school’s got our back.”

The Bears face No. 1 Messiah College (24-0-1) at 1 p.m. on Saturday in San Antonio, Texas, to decide the 2009 Division III Women’s Soccer National Championship. “We really want to beat Messiah,” Tembunkiart said. “Messiah’s won this before. They’ve been here before. They’ve got both their girls and guys teams here. We want to be the lower-ranked team for the first time, beat them and have an upset.”

“We left it all on the field. We knew what we were up against. It was just unfortunate that they got the first goal. It really took us down a little,” junior Caryn Rosoff said.

“I don’t think anyone on our team was ready for the season to be over this weekend. At the same time, we have a lot to be proud of. It wasn’t a rebuilding year; we maintained our level of play. I’m so proud of all my teammates,” senior, co-captain Shirey Lane said.

The game, played at Wheaton, puts the No. 6 Bears final record at 15-4-2 (6-1 UAA) and ends the team’s title run led by first-year Head Coach Jim Conlon.

Wash. U. recorded just two shots on goal the entire match, compared to eight by Wheaton. The Bears could only muster seven shots the entire game compared with 22 by the Thunder.

After a scoreless first half, the Thunder got on the board on the 10th goal of the season by Kari Klynstra just more than eight minutes into the second half.

Conlon adjusted the team’s strategy to push for the equalizing goal, but Wheaton took advantage with an insurance goal from Erin Hodina in the 79th minute. A final goal in the 90th minute gave Wheaton its 3-0 victory.

“Overall it was a successful season, especially with the transition to a new coach. We really united as a team more than ever before,” Rosoff said.

“I just think everyone played really well. In general, we played our hearts out. Unfortunately, we didn’t go as far as we wanted to, but the season was successful,” senior Kristen Hilligoss said.

The 2008 season brought with it a third straight UAA title and NCAA tournament birth. Junior Libby Held, senior Caitlin Malone and Rosoff earned first-team all UAA honors while junior Becca Heymann earned second-team honors.

Senior goalkeeper Amanda Boe, freshman Lee Ann Felder and junior Carter Schwarberg all earned honorable mention all-UAA accolades. Boe was also named First-Team Academic All-American by ESPN The Magazine.

The team graduates eight seniors but retains leading goal scorers Rosoff and Felder.

“It’s hard for me as a senior to think that it’s really all over. But we [the seniors] are going to stay as involved as possible,” Lane said.

“The junior class all played really well in the game on Friday. I have no doubt on their abilities and our potential to go further next year,” Hilligoss said.

The team will look to add its fourth consecutive UAA title and NCAA tournament berth next season but also to improve on this season’s finish.

“Our goals for next year are going to be pretty much the same. Every year, we want to improve and go farther in the tournament. The number one thing on everyone’s mind is the national championship,” Rosoff said.