Box Score Costa Mesa, Calif. - The Columbia women's soccer team was unable to get by Vanguard (Calif.) University on Saturday afternoon as the Lions advanced 4-3 via penalty kicks in the 2013 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Opening Round. The Cougars end the season with a record of 16-2-2, while Vanguard moves to 15-4-1 and moves on to the 2013 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship.

The Lions would strike first midway through the first half on Kayla Arenas' team-leading 15^th goal of the season. That score held up over the remainder of the opening as Columbia trailed at the halftime break for the first time in 15 games. Vanguard would hold the lead on into the second half before a goal by Columbia's Stephanie Hale evened the score in the 71^st minute. Both defenses would tighten up over the final minutes to send the game into overtime tied at 1-1.

Neither overtime period was able to produce a goal to send the contest to penalty kicks. Both squads would find the back of the net with their first two kicks before Cougar goalkeeper Erica Ramirez came up with two brilliant saves on the Lions' next two kicks. However, Columbia was unable to convert either of their next two attempts as the round stayed deadlocked at 2-2. After each team netted their next kick, Vanguard would make their next attempt followed by a Columbia miss to end the match.

Ramirez picked up the draw with five saves in goal for the Cougars, who were outshot 19-9 by the Lions in regulation and overtime.

Vanguard, the tournament's No. 6 seed, will head to the NAIA National Championship final site in Orange Beach, Ala. to take on Robert Morris (Ill.) University.