In a field consisting of 32 teams from NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA, and NJCAA, Penn fought through three weather delays to finish 6-1 and claim the crown.

Teams played on fields that were 70 yards long by 54 yards wide with full-size goals. Unless shortened by weather, each game was expected to consist of two 20-minute halves.

The Statesmen opened the day against NCAA Division I Bradley (Ill.) of the Missouri Valley Conference. Penn took the early lead as Jamie Gibbons (Jr., West Des Moines, Iowa, Iowa Western CC) scored off a pass from Armando Irias (Sr., Baytown, Texas, Lee HS). Tim Eyer (Jr., Palos Heights, Ill., Shepard HS) made it 2-0 off an assist by Nik Rule (Jr., Idaho Falls, Idaho, Skyline HS).

Gibbons extended the advantage to 3-0 on a penalty kick goal. Bradley scored late in the game, but the Braves were no threat as Penn claimed the opener 3-1.

The Statesmen, led by three goals from Rule, dominated NCAA Division III Benedictine (Ill.) in the second game by a score of 7-1. The win allowed Penn to clinch a spot in the 16-team single-elimination tournament.

The team unfortunately failed to go a perfect 3-0 in pool play as they fell to host DuPage 3-2. After a two-hour delay, the teams took the field to play a game that was shortened to half its regular time. Penn again scored first as Rule put one past the goalkeeper off an assist by Vince Beseau (Jr., Florissant, Mo., Hazelwood Central HS). The Chaparrals then scored two unanswered goals to take a 2-1 before Irias tied the game at 2-2 with five minutes to play. Unfortunately, DuPage was able to score in the final two minutes to take down the Statesmen.

Penn finished as the top seed in its group and proceeded into the single-elimination tournament. Two weather delays ensued, however, forcing the team's next two opponents Aurora (Ill.), in the first round, and DePauw (Ind.), in the quarterfinals, to forfeit.

The Statesmen were then matched up with NCAA Division III North Central (Ill.) in the semifinals. Rule scored the contest's first goal and was assisted by Jacob Plocher (Jr., West Plains, Mo., West Plains HS). Just two minutes later, Irias put one past the keeper to make it 2-0. Rudy Bear (Jr., Baytown, Texas, Sterling HS) also scored off a pass from Dexter Tobie (Jr., Joliet, Ill., Joliet CC) and the game ended at 3-1 with Penn advancing to the finals.

The finals paired Penn with NJCAA Kishwaukee (Ill.). The Statesmen took another early advantage when Plocher scored off a ball played by Rule.

Penn pushed the lead to 2-0 when Rule put one past with an assist going to Gibbons. Kishwaukee did not wave its white flag, however, and managed to tie the game with two goals inside the final six minutes to force a shootout situation.

Both teams went 4-5 in the round of PKs, forcing a sudden-death shootout. Gibbons then hit the first shot in sudden death, and Penn goalkeeper Tadeo Cavazos (Jr., Baytown, Texas, Lee HS) sealed the victory with a great save to give the Statesmen the win and the championship.

Cavazos and his defense, which consisted of Tobie, Irias, Steve Olson (Fr., Cedar Rapids, Linn-Mar HS), and Matt Saner (Jr., West Plains, Mo., Neosho CC), allowed just eight goals the entire day, the fewest of any team. Rule led the Penn offense with six goals, while Irias, Gibbons, and Plocher had three apiece.

Tournament Summary

Pool Play
Game 1: Penn 3, Bradley 1
Game 2: Penn 7, Benedictine 1
Game 3: DuPage 3, Penn 2

Single-Elimination Tournament
First Round: Penn won by forfeit over Aurora
Quarterfinals: Penn won by forfeit over DePauw
Semifinals: Penn 3, North Central 1
Finals: Penn 2, Kishwaukee 2 (Penn won PKs 5-4)