WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Pacific University denied a PacWest Conference Championship for Fresno Pacific on Saturday with a goal in the 86th minute that forced a 1-1 double overtime tie at the Wiapio Peninsula Soccer Complex.
 
The Sharks (8-8-2, 4-7-2) finished the season with a .500 overall record. The Sunbirds (9-6-3, 9-2-2) finished a point behind California Baptist in the PacWest standings.
 
FPU went into the game knowing that Cal Baptist and Notre Dame de Namur had played to a scoreless tie and that a win would give them the title and an NCAA Division II automatic bid.
 
HPU was playing to have a .500 season and close the season at home successfully.
 
The hotly contested first half was scoreless as each team had just five shots, with three on goal by FPU and one by HPU.
 
But it didn't take long in the second half for Fresno Pacific to get on the board.
 
In the 53rd minute, the Sunbirds struck quickly to take the lead as Jessica Dondlinger collected a loose ball, dribbled up and fired a rocket shot from the top of 18-yard box on the right side to make it 1-0.
 
HPU kept battling through the half, despite shots the came off the goal frame and outstanding saves by FPU keeper Summer Hammond.
 
The Sharks caught a break in the 86th minute as FPU was starting to feel a championship. Senior midfielder Sara Romo of Elk Grove, Calif./Franklin, fired a shot the hit the far post and came to the feet of freshman midfielder Alissa Lei Walin of Paia, Hawai'i/Seabury Hall who tapped across the goal line for the game-tying goal.
 
HPU senior goal keeper Alannah John of Sacramento, Calif./Ponderosa, stopped the only serious shot in regulation and send the match to overtime.
 
Both team had wide shots in the first extra period, with Hammond getting a save on the Sharks only shot on goal.
 
In the second extra period, Hammond got a save on a Shark corner kick in the 109th minute and John saved a free kick in the final seconds to secure the tie that put HPU at .500 and spoiled the Sunbirds' title hopes.
 
John notched nine saves against 20 Sunbird shots, while FPU got six saves from Hammond and a team save against 22 HPU shots.
 
With the game the Sharks bid aloha to five seniors, Romo, John, defender Hi'ilani Thomas of Honolulu/Punahou, defender Taylor Cabbab of Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/Campbell, and midfielder Lei Kaina of Waipahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama.