Katie Callahan, Alicia Wyman, and Shelby Kuni all were a part of the University of Tampa Spartans that won the NCAA Division 2 National Championship on penalty kicks over Franklin Pierce of New Hamsphire.
All three played in the game with Wyman going the full game as a central defender and captain. Kuni is the all time leading goals scorer at Tampa and Callahan provided key minutes off the bench.
Congratulations to these Houston area women for winning the national championship in penalty kicks!

New Zealand is one of the few planets on the globe that doesn’t priortize soccer. Rugby is king.
But soccer yesterday got a high profile day when David Beckham and the LA Galaxy in front of the largest crowd ever for soccer in New Zealand (35,000) defeated the Wellington Phoenix 4-1.
Beckham produced a goal and an assistant. His goal came via a penalty kick which Landon Donovan graciously stepped aside from.
The profile and attention that Beckham is bringing to MLS still is amazing.

Speaking of down under, that is where I am. Well kind of. I am in beautiful Orange, Alabama on the Gulf, and I mean beautiful beaches!
I am calling the NCAA Division 2 National Championships starting today at noon (CST) on the College Sports Television (CST).
Today it is Tampa against Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire. Franklin Pierce is led by the top womens player at division 2 Gabriel Demoner who is a highly talented Brazilian and worth watching.
University of Tampa has two girls that played at Texas Premier Youth club in Houston. Shelby Kuni a striker and Alicia Wyman a Jr. Kuni is the all time leading scorer at the school with 52. Another example of all the womens youth players from Houston playing around the country.
Last night Midwestern State coached by Doug Elder another former Houstonian was defeated by Franklin Pierce on the mens side. His team on this night was the better squad and was cruely knocked out of the semi-finals on penalty kicks.
His squad also featured a number of Houston area players .
Let me just take this opportunity to remind all how ridiculous it is that NCAA Division 1 mens soccer is not prevalent in our state. It is amazing this has been overlooked.
The mens final is tomorrow on CST also pitting Franklin Pierce against Lincoln Memorial of Tennesee . Lincoln Memorial has 8 Brazilians on their squad.