COLUMBIA, Ky. -- The NAIA's 2004 champs beat the NAIA's 2005 champs tonight to claim the 2006 NAIA Women's Soccer Region XI Championship at Lindsey Wilson Park.

In a steady rain, top-seeded Lindsey Wilson College shut out defending national champions and No. 2-seed Martin Methodist (Tenn.) College 3-0 to earn the automatic bid into the 2006 national tournament.
Based on its final national ranking, Martin Methodist will earn one of the national tournament's six at-large bids.

The Blue Raiders (20-2-0) grabbed a 1-0 lead following an own goal at the 20:47 mark.

Sophomore Sandra Andersson blasted a free kick from 25 yards out that Martin Methodist goalkeeper Sarah Prendergast originally stopped, only to have the ball ricochet off a teammate and into the goal.

Lindsey Wilson, who controlled much of the offensive play in the first 20 minutes, out-shot the Redhawks (17-3-0) 4-1 following the goal.

The next five minutes belonged to Martin Methodist, as the Redhawks notched three shots, two on goal. But LWC freshman goalkeeper Lisbeth Skjodt was equal to the task, stopping the Redhawk shots on goal to keep the game at 1-0. Skjodt ended the night with three saves.

The remainder of the first half was played in the soggy midfield, with neither team able to get off a shot. The half ended with Lindsey Wilson leading 1-0.

In the second half, Martin Methodist grabbed the early advantage. The Redhawks managed one shot on goal during the 15-minute run, but Skjodt easily handled the shot to secure her 11th shutout of the season.

Lindsey Wilson, who has not allowed a goal in more than 922 game minutes, shut out an opponent for the 10th consecutive match. Martin Methodist was the last team to score on the Blue Raiders, a 4-1 Lindsey Wilson win on Oct. 1.

LWC senior midfielder Hishamar Falconer scored the match's second goal at the 70:39 mark off freshman Omolyn Davis' assist. Senior midfielder Jill Lirbank-Almbaek's corner kick was rejected from the penalty area back onto her boot for a second serve in the box. Lirbank-Almbaek's serve found Davis, who touched the ball off to Falconer standing five yards off the line for the goal.

The Blue Raiders -- who out-shot Martin Methodist 9-7 for the match -- continued to apply pressure.

Freshman forward Kristine Pedersen ended the scoring on an unassisted goal at the 81:40 mark. Pedersen beat a Redhawk defender and a diving Prendergast to the ball just inside the penalty area. Pedersen flicked the ball over Prendergast for her team-leading 21st goal of the season.

Prendergast ended the night allowing three goals and stopping three Lindsey Wilson shots.

Lindsey Wilson and Martin Methodist return to action in the NAIA National Tournament which will be November 15-21 in Olathe, Kansas. The NAIA will release the 20-team tournament bracket on Sunday, November 12.