Point Loma Nazarene’s defense of its 2023 NCAA Division II women’s soccer championship ended Saturday afternoon with a 2-1 overtime loss at Cal Poly-Pomona in a Western Regionals semifinals match.

The Broncos won the game on a goal from Angelina Rivas 5 minutes and 17 seconds into overtime.

PLNU trailed 1-0 at halftime but tied the game in the 48th minute on a goal from Alana Diaz.

“How we played and the outcome are two different things,” said PLNU head coach Kristi Kiely. “This year has been incredibly impressive. We showed a lot of resilience and composure. We overcame a lot, including injuries.

“There’s a lot of disappointment right now. We didn’t want it to be done. But I’m proud of the way we played this season.”

The Sea Lions finished the season 17-3-1. It was PLNU’s second one-goal loss of the season to the top seed in the Western Regionals. The Broncos are 19-1-2 on the season.

The hosts outshot PLNU 11-5 for the game and Diaz’s goal was the Sea Lions’ only official shot on goal in the game. PLNU goalkeeper Julia Pinnell was credited with two saves.

But PLNU dominated the play in the second half, controlling the ball in the Broncos’ side of the field.

“We knew at halftime we needed to make an adjustment and we did,” said Sea Lions’ midfielder Alyssa Ketcham. “We’re not a team that gives up. We all thought this was going to end differently.”

The 2023 Sea Lions’ women’s soccer team gave PLNU its first national title in any sport.