MURRAY, Ky.  -  Through all the adversity faced through this unusual Spring 2021 season, one thing is now for certain - SIUE women's soccer are conference champions!

SIUE women's soccer emerged victorious in dramatic fashion, as Kayla Klipsch converted a penalty kick in the third minute of overtime to give the Cougars their first Ohio Valley Conference championship since 2016 and third OVC title in program history.

After surrendering the opening goal to Southeast Missouri in the 52nd minute, it took just 17 minutes for the Cougars to respond, as Maria Haro netted an unassisted goal in the 69th minute to tie the contest at one goal each. That scoreline would hold through the full 90 minutes of regulation, meaning SIUE would play extra time in the OVC Championship for the second consecutive season.

However, the Cougars would not be denied in Spring 2021, as Kayla Klipsch netted a penalty kick in the 93rd minute to score the golden goal and secure SIUE's spot in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

"I'm incredibly proud of the determination of this group," said SIUE Head Coach Derek Burton following the match. "It obviously was always going to be a battle, and despite them getting on the board first, we dug in."

Haro and MacKenzie Litzsinger led the Red & White with six shots each, with Haro putting four of those shots on target. The Cougars as a team recorded 25 total shots, good for the second-most shots of the Spring 2021 season. The SIUE backline held the fourth-seeded Redhawks to just three shots on goal. In addition, four Cougar student-athletes earned spots in the All-Tournament squad - Lily Schnieders, Taylor Spiller, Myah Diekema, and Maria Haro, who also won the Tournament's Most Valuable Player.

"I knew 478 days before our first game this spring that this team would absolutely do whatever it took to get back to having this opportunity," added Burton. "There were obviously a number of challenges that came about from fall 2019 to today. But they attacked them all, remained focused on what was most important - their team. That makes me a proud coach."

The Cougars will not have to wait long to find out their First Round opponent, as the NCAA selection show is scheduled for Monday, April 19. The entirety of the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament will be held in various locations in the state of North Carolina.