Cal Poly Pomona took the lead with a goal early in the second half and held on to defeat Minnesota State Mankato 2-1 in the championship game of the NCAA Division II women’s soccer championships Sunday in Matthews, N.C.
Marisa Salazar’s unassisted goal — 65 seconds after the intermission — broke a 1-1 halftime tie.
The Mavericks (18-2-7), the first team from the NSIC to reach the championship game, led 1-0 after Courtney Kovacs scored in the ninth minute. The goal, assisted by Avery Korsching, was the third of the season for Kovacs, a junior from Ankeny, Iowa.
The Broncos tied the match in the 23rd minute on a goal by Tara Oper.
Cal Poly Pomona (22-1-2) had defeated defending champion Point Loma in the third round, No. 1-ranked Colorado Mines in the quarterfinals and Franklin Pierce in the semifinals to reach the championship game for the first time since 1999.