ROCHESTER, Mich. — Oakland's Mary Jenkins came up with two tournament-clinching saves on penalty kicks to down fourth-seeded Western Illinois Saturday in the Mid-Con Women's Soccer Championships. Jenkins stopped shots from Caitlin Barrett and Katelyn Wisner to give the Golden Grizzlies the tournament title 4-3 in a shootout after a 1-1 tie through two overtimes.

"It was just an awesome sight to see our ladies play that well and run our game plan to perfection," said Western head coach Kevin Sherry. "It was also very heartbreaking to dominate play as well as we did and have to end the game on a shootout on their (Oakland) home turf."

It was a scoreless game until the 74th minute when the No. 2 seeded Grizzlies took a 1-0 lead on a Jessica Boyle goal. Marianne Samdal recorded the assist on the play.

Just a little under four minutes later, Bess Rapp tied the game with her fourth goal of the year at the 76:53 mark.

Neither team could score in overtime, but both teams put shots on goal. Both goalkeepers, Samantha Clark for Western and Kim Herbst for Oakland, came up with big saves in overtime. Both keepers recorded five saves.

With the game tied at one through both overtimes, it forced penalty kicks to decide the Mid-Con Tournament Title and a berth to the NCAA Women's College Cup.

Western took the first attempt and Kim Schuneman put the Westerwinds up 1-0, but Oakland's Cat Panabaker tied the shootout at 1-1. Keeley Murray was successful in her attempt, but Kristi Tomczyk matched that with a successful penalty kick tying the shootout at two. Rapp gave Western a 3-2 lead, but Kristi Mitchell gave the Grizzlies another answer tying the shootout at three.

Then came the heroics of Jenkins. She recorded a save against Barrett and Oakland's Marlie Lieberman gave the Grizzlies a 4-3 lead setting up a must score chance for Wisner. Jenkins came up with another save giving Oakland the win and the Mid-Con Tournament title.

"We spent at least 80 percent of the time on their side of the field," said Sherry. "We were so organized and we just played better overall soccer, but couldn't convert on chances. Just a yard or two here and there and we win the title."

The loss will more than likely end Western's season at 11-7-1. Sherry's team improved on a record-breaking season in 2005 to set a new record for wins breaking last year's record of nine. It was also Western Illinois' first appearance in the championship finals in the program's nine-year history.

"I told our ladies that we have nothing to be ashamed of," said Sherry. "We did something that no other team in the history of the school has done. All of the coaches up in Rochester know we are one of the best teams especially next year. We will use this pain from this loss to fuel us for next season."

Three Western Illinois players were also named to the All-Tournament Team. Lainey Bruhn, Ashley Hoch and Misako Inaba all received All-Tournament Team honors.