TACOMA, Wash. -- Kimberly Mitchell blasted home a shot from just in front of the goal after a scramble in front of the net to lift Whitworth University to a 2-1 overtime win over UC Santa Cruz in the first round of the NCAA Division III women's soccer tournament on Saturday afternoon at University of Puget Sound

Mitchell scored the winner for the Pirates

Mitchell's (Jr., D, Los Altos, Calif.) goal in the 92nd minute completed a comeback victory for the Pirates (18-2), who are competing in their first ever national tournament. UCSC finishes the season with a record of 12-3-2.

Midway through the first half Whitworth appeared to be pressuring the Banana Slug end when UCSC stole the ball and Annick Lamb broke the other way down the left sideline. She got around a Pirate defender and shot the ball over Whitworth keeper Krista Dietz from a left-side angle for a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute. It was her 11th goal of the season.

The Pirates tied the match later in the half after Lindsey Oakes (So., MF, Boise, Idaho) scored her team-leading 10th goal of the season. Whitworth had pressured the UCSC goal and the Banana Slugs were unable to clear the ball before Oakes scored from close range in the 37th minute.

The second half was scoreless, despite the fact that there were 14 shots in the period - eight by Whitworth and six by UCSC.

Early in the overtime period Whitworth's Penelope Crowe (Jr., F, Bellingham, Wash.l) got a shot on goal that Banana Slug keeper Katie Loomis saved. But the Bucs were awarded their first corner kick of the match. Crowe sent the corner kick into the middle of the box, and after the Slugs were unable to clear the ball, Mitchell fired from close range and Whitworth had earned its first-ever NCAA post season victory. It was Mitchell's second goal of the year.

The Pirates outshot the Banana Slugs 16-10, including an 8-2 edge in shots on goal. Loomis made six saves for UCSC, while Dietz made one save for Whitworth.

The Pirates will face host University of Puget Sound in a second round match on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. UPS defeated Cal Lutheran University 3-0 in the day's first match. The Loggers earned a pair of one-goal victories over the Pirates during the regular season.