RIO GRANDE, Ohio- Since winning what was then the KIAC title in 2014, the women's soccer program at the University of Rio Grande has made four trips to the RSC Championship match.

Each of those four trips - in 2017, 2021, 2022, and 2023, ended in heartbreak for the RedStorm, one win short of a conference title and a trip to the NAIA Tournament. And in 2026, Rio flirted with heartbreak again.

But the RedStorm finally broke through on Wednesday night, winning their second-ever River States Conference Tournament title with a 3-2 overtime victory over second-seeded WVU Tech. The RedStorm will play in the NAIA Tournament for the second time, making their first trip since 2014.

The early portion of Wednesday's championship match, played in front of a near-capacity crowd at Evan E. Davis Field, had the feeling of a basketball game. The two teams raced up and down the field, trading chances that tested both goalkeepers. It was Rio Grande that finally cashed in, finding the back of the net in the 34th minute when a corner kick squirted loose and was tapped in by Amora Albano.

An unfortunate error from the Golden Bears allowed the RedStorm to increase their lead to 2-0, seemingly all but sealing the title for Rio Grande. A RedStorm forward played a low cross into the box, and a miscommunication between WVU Tech's defender and goalkeeper led to an own goal in the 49th minute.

WVU Tech didn't go quietly though, capitalizing on a Rio mistake to pull within one in the 61st minute. The Golden Bears forced a turnover in the attacking third, but saw their first two chances turned away by the RedStorm goalkeeper. On the third chance, Shiloh Goodwin finally finished, putting life back in the Golden Bears with just under a half hour to play.

Just over ten minutes later, WVU Tech found the goal that would send the championship match to overtime. The tying goal came on another rebound, as WVU Tech had several chances at the net before Sophie Quinlan slotted home the equalizer in the 72nd minute. 

The game remained tied into overtime, with Rio Grande's winner coming in the 98th minute. The Golden Bears failed to clear a ball in the box that ricocheted of a WVU Tech player before coming to the foot of Jayden Thornton. Thornton scored 7:19 into overtime to give the RedStorm their second conference title.

Rio Grande will find out their national tournament opponent and destination later this week. The bids and matchups for the NAIA Tournament will be announced Friday by the national office in Kansas City.