RIO GRANDE, Ohio - Three years ago, a freshman Ramon Ferrari was the hero in penalty kicks for the WVU Tech Golden Bears, stopping a Rio Grande shot to deliver the Golden Bears a conference title.

Almost three years to the day later, Ferrari came up big from the spot yet again to add another piece of silverware to the WVU Tech trophy case.

Ferrari stopped a penalty kick in the 55th minute, one of six clutch saves, as WVU Tech knocked off top-ranked Rio Grande, 1-0, to win their second straight River States Conference Tournament title. The win marked Rio Grande's first loss at home to an RSC opponent since September 26, 2019 - another WVU Tech win.

For much of the first half, it looked like a Rio goal was moments away. The RedStorm peppered the WVU Tech with eleven shots, but it was the Golden Bears that finally broke through. With less than four minutes to play in the half, the RSC Player of the Year found the back of the net, with Gonzalo Sabeh scoring on an assist from Francisco Mustra.

Now trailing by one goal, the RedStorm kept up the pressure in the second half, putting 17 more shots in the direction of the net. The RedStorm had a golden opportunity in the 55th minute to tie the match after a foul in the box, but Ferrari turned away Rossich to preserve the WVU Tech lead.

The RedStorm had one final chance to tie the match in the final 90 seconds, but Ferrari made a leaping save of a header from Tommy Munoz Salazar to deliver the Golden Bears another conference title, sparking a wild celebration from the Tech fans that made the journey from Beckley.

In total, the RedStorm outshot the Golden Bears by a 28-3 margin, and took 12 corner kicks to just two for WVU Tech. Tech attempted just two shots on goal, but the one that found the back of the net was enough to win a River States Conference title.

Both Rio Grande, as an almost certain at-large, and WVU Tech as RSC champion will play in the NAIA Tournament. It will be the 26th consecutive trip to the national tournament for Rio Grande, and the fourth in the last seventh for the Golden Bears, last year's national runner-up. The bids and matchups for the NAIA Tournament will be announced Friday by the national office in Kansas City.