Returning to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year was no easy feat for the California Baptist University women’s soccer team.

Buried 2-0 against Utah Valley in the WAC Tournament final on Saturday, Nov. 8, CBU fought back with second-half goals from Anja Jestrovic and Taylor Held before Fontana native Mikayla O’Brien secured a 4-3 victory in the shootout to repeat as conference postseason champions.

The win earned the Lancers (12-8-2 overall) an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, where this time coach Kristen St. Clair’s team will face No. 3-ranked Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., in a first-round match Friday.

“(I’m) proud of this team and at the end of the day we advance and have an opportunity,” St. Clair said.

CBU finished the regular season with a scoreless draw and a

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