ROCHESTER, Mich. — Caitlin Barrett scored the game-winning goal for Western Illinois in leading the Westerwinds to their first win in the women's soccer Mid-Con Championships. The freshman from Springfield, Ill., couldn't have scored her first goal at a better time than the winning goal against the conference champions. Her goal in the 53rd minute throttled Western into its first Mid-Con Tournament finals in the program's nine-year history.

"We were able to play our game today and that enabled us to show our ability," said Western head coach Kevin Sherry. "It was so cold here and it was snowing a little, but the ladies came out with a purpose to prove the loss against them (Valparaiso) at home was a fluke."

Misako Inaba scored the opening goal in the 29th minute off an assist from Ashley Hoch. It was her fifth goal of the year.

Valparaiso tied the game and then took the lead before the half. Jessica White scored just 32 seconds after Inaba's goal to tie the game at one and then Ani Michl gave the Crusaders a 2-1 lead in the 41st minute.

Going into the half down 1-2 had Sherry worried and a little miffed after seeing such dominant play by his team.

"I was stunned when they (Valparaiso) scored their first goal," said Sherry. "They caught us sleeping and when they scored the second it was heartbreaking. It was really weird because our defense was playing well and we were dominating possession, but we just got beat a couple of times. In the second half though it was 100 percent perfection."

The surge did come by the way of two goals. Hoch added her third goal of the year off an assist from Keeley Murray and then Barrett sealed the game with her goal off an assist from Kelly Warner.

Getting to the Mid-Con championship has been three year's of work for junior-captain Bess Rapp who as a freshman, was part of a Westerwinds team that went 3-12-3 overall and finished dead last in the Mid-Con at 1-5-0 in 2004.

"This is just an amazing feeling right now," said Rapp. "With us coming from the fourth seed and getting back the earlier loss, you can't describe how we feel. We just deserved this more and wanted it more."

Western will go for its first Mid-Con Championship title Saturday, at Noon (CDT), and will play tournament host Oakland, who defeated Southern Utah 2-1. The Golden Grizzlies handed the Westerwinds their worst loss of the year in Rochester, Mich., 6-1, Oct. 21.