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BYU players wave to the fans after the NCAA finals match against Florida State at Stevens Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021.

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BYU players react after losing in a shootout in the NCAA finals match against Florida State at Stevens Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021.

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BYU senior keeper Cassidy Smith makes a save as part of the shootout during the NCAA finals match against Florida State at Stevens Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021.

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BYU goalkeeper Cassidy Smith talks team her teammates during a break in the NCAA championship game against Florida State at Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. (BYU Courtesy Photo)

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BYU's Mikayla Colohan looks to pass to a teammate during the NCAA championship match against Florida State in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. (BYU Courtesy Photo)

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The BYU women's soccer team during introduction before the NCAA championship match against Florida State in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. (BYU Courtesy Photo)

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BYU fans getting ready for the NCAA women's soccer championship match against Florida State at Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. (BYU Courtesy Photo)

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BYU's Cassidy Smith (in front) and Brecken Mozingo walk through a tunnel of Cougar fans on their way to the NCAA championship match at Santa Clara on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. (BYU Courtesy Photo)

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BYU's Olivia Wade kicks the ball during the NCAA Championship Match against Florida State in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. (BYU Courtesy Photo)

❮ ❯

Sudden victory.

Golden goal.

Penalty kick shootout.

Any college soccer game where those terms come into play, it means heart-stopping drama.

Add having a national championship on the line and it’s absolutely riveting.

Anyone who missed seeing the BYU women’s soccer team battle Florida State at Stevens Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday night in the College Cup finals missed something truly special.

It was a game where both teams had moments of brilliance and moments where their hearts were in their throats with the tension.

With all of the white-knuckle excitement, I hope Cougar fans took a minute to savor what a tremendous exhibition their BYU squad was putting on display.

This is a team that had more struggles at the beginning of the year than anyone expected.

The Cougars rallied from those to become the highest-scoring team in the country and rode that dangerous offense and pressure mentality to a tie for the league title, a spot in the NCAA tournament and then five straight wins to get to their first title game.

I’m not going to say that BYU was completely immune to the unmatched adrenaline of the moment.

The Cougars looked rushed at times, often not appearing to be as composes as they had for much of the season.

Of course, much of the credit for that belongs to the talented Seminoles, who have amazing talent and ball skills.

Florida State did more to impose its will on the game than BYU did, but the Cougars still stood tall and never backed down from a team that had been ranked No. 1 for much of the year.

It was a fantastic battle, surging back and forth through 90 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime action.

Then it was watching each penalty kick, each dive by each keeper, seeing the ball hit the net, seeing the ball bounce out when saves were made.

In the end, it came down to one kick — and it was made by the Seminoles.

But even though BYU ended up being oh-so-close to a championship, it took nothing away from the brilliance of the 2021 Cougar team.

We got to watch seniors Mikayla Colohan, Cameron Tucker, Grace Johnson, Mikayla Moore and Cassidy Smith work their magic for one more amazing season.

We had a chance to see BYU do things that even the talented teams of the past have never been able to accomplish.

I was at the NCAA quarterfinal game in Provo in 2012 when the Cougars had so many chances to knock off No. 2-seed North Carolina but lost 2-1 in double overtime, then had to watch as the Tar Heels went on to win the title.

I was part of the BYUtv sport broadcasting group in 2003, the year BYU lost to UConn, 3-1, in another quarterfinal trip.

More recently, I saw the Cougars make a great run in 2019 before falling to No. 1-seed Stanford, 5-1.

In these recent years, it has been an honor to see many of the athletes I have either covered or seen play in high school.

This year that included Tucker, Cassidy Smith, Josie Shepherd, Rachel McCarthy, Addie Gardner and Ashton Johnson.

I guess if I’m honest I would have to say I’m a little extra proud of those girls because I’ve gotten the opportunity to know them a little bit.

But really I’m proud of all of the BYU players and coaches.

It was quite a season, quite a run.

Thanks for giving us all such a great show.

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