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NORFOLK, Va. — The fate of the 2013 NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship rested Sunday afternoon on the stick of Shippensburg University All-American senior forward Bre White.

Convert a penalty stroke – five minutes into sudden-death overtime – and win a national championship. It was something she dreamed of, and White approached the stroke like it wasn't a potential championship-winner but rather just like one of the 13 others she had attempted in her illustrious career.

White converted right side through a small window between the outstretched left arm and left leg of the LIU Post goalkeeper as SU knocked off the previously-unbeaten Pioneers, 2-1, on a chilly, windy afternoon at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex on the campus of Old Dominion University.

The victory marks the first NCAA Championship by Shippensburg in any sport in school history. The only prior SU national championship at any level came in 1979, when Jane Goss's field hockey squad won the AIAW Division III Championship.

"As a coach I think back of all the kids that I've had and all the opportunities we had to win a national championship and didn't," head coach Bertie Landes said after the win. "Our tradition of field hockey here at Ship is so many people. It starts with Jane Goss and her program and continues with the tradition of the 15 years I've been there. The players that have played for me, the dedication, the passion and our administration that supports us – from the president all the way down to those in our office – that all goes through your head."

Shippensburg (20-1) took an early lead at the 11:07 mark on the game's first penalty corner. Senior Taylor Bender entered the corner and sent a return feed from junior Lucy Kauffman into the lower right portion of the cage that put the Raiders up 1-0.

SU was left to preserve a one-goal lead for a lengthy period, and a sensational defensive effort nearly led to a shutout. However, LIU Post (21-1) knotted the score with just 2:56 left in regulation after Dani Crouse sent in a long, low shot from just inside the scoring circle.

The Pioneers maintained the majority of the offensive pressure in the game's second half and in overtime despite managing just four penalty corners. SU's back line held its ground and racked up numerous stick stops against a Pioneer attack that thrived off long entry passes into the offensive zone.

"One of the major things we emphasized was just really communicating back on [defense]," senior Katie Shoop said after the game. "Staying tight on our marks and working together – making sure everyone's doing their part."

"It was chaotic," Shoop said. "I don't know why we wanted to keep it so interesting. I had a million heart attacks today. But at the end of the day we did it. We let that goal in but we knew we had to start from there, start fresh at 1-1."

SU's last line of defense, senior goalkeeper Carenna Neely, came up big on several occasions to keep the Pioneers at bay. Her two best saves came late in the contest when she thwarted a shot by Keliann Margiotta on a sprawling double-pad block with 3:53 left in regulation and then neutralized a one-on-one threat from Carlee Dragon in overtime after having to come well out of the cage to cut down the angle. Both Margiotta and Dragon entered the game with 20 goals – the second-most in Division II.

The Raiders managed a rush up field five minutes into overtime and drew a penalty corner that led to the game-ending penalty stroke. After a White shot made contact with a defensive player near the goal line, White was awarded the stroke and sent it lower right for the final and most important of her 67 career goals. Moments later, White found herself in a swarm of teammates.

"I remember I just got down and then I was like, 'Well I better get back up or I'm not gonna be able to breathe.'" White said. "I know Lauren Taylor hugged me right away and she fell and I was like, 'Get back up!' Everyone was coming and it's just the best feeling to have everyone running toward you."

White, Neely, Shoop and junior Ari Saytar were named to the All-Tournament Team. Shoop served as SU's central midfielder and back throughout the weekend and Saytar scored the game-winning goal in Friday's 3-1 semifinal victory over Millersville.

Shippensburg's nine-member senior class – White, Shoop, Neely, Bender, Taylor, Danielle Proctor, Brynn Seidenstricker, Megan Jett and Brittany Jett – conclude an historic four-year run with a 75-10 record, three appearances in the NCAA Semifinals, two appearances in the NCAA Championship Game and one NCAA Championship.

"The leadership of this group is just unbelievable, we have each other's back. Even those that didn't start or didn't play, they had something to say and they made sure that they kept the team together," Landes said. "It's just been a pleasure to have them lead this team and see them mother the others and care for the others more than themselves, because it's all about what you can give to your teammates and what you can give to your program and these kids have given so much.

"It's a legacy that is far more important than a national championship. It's what they have been and what they have done for this program."

NOTES: Shippensburg made its 10th NCAA Championships appearance in 2013…all of SU's NCAA appearances have come under the direction of 15th-year head coach Bertie Landes…with the exception of the 2007 season, the Raiders have reached the NCAA Championships appearance every year since 2003 – a run of 10 appearances out of the past 11 seasons…SU is now 1-1 in NCAA Championship games, having dropped a 1-0 decision to Massachusetts-Lowell in 2010…SU has now won 10 straight matches over LIU Post dating back to 2005...Added Landes about her 2013 title-winning team: "The one unique thing about this team is they always wanted to get better. Every practice, every game, how can we get better? What can we do? What do we need to do to reach that next level? And they weren't going to be denied."