What a Finish!

The UT Lady Longhorns won their first-ever Big 12 Conference tournament championship on Sunday afternoon in about as dramatic a fashion as possible, getting back-to-back game-saving plays from first Caitlyn Kennedy and then Dianna Pfenninger to beat Colorado 5-4 in a penalty kick shootout. Down 4-3 with just one kick to go for each team, the Horns needed a goal by Kennedy, and then a save by Pfenninger, to stay alive. They got both. And minutes later, they had the championship, after junior transfer Greta Carter hit for UT, and the Buffs' last kicker pushed the ball wide left.

That should be plenty to earn the Horns an NCAA subregional host bid; see you at Myers Stadium next Friday and Sunday?

The Horns had taken the lead in the third minute of the second half with Kelsey Carpenter's 14th goal of the season, only to see the Buffs tie it up with about 11 minutes left in regulation. After two scoreless overtimes, the game headed to the PK shootout, which remains just a terrible way to end a soccer game, but one of the most dramatic moments in all of sports.

With the Horns kicking first, each team nailed its first three kicks. But in round four, Carrie Schmit's attempt was saved by the Buffs' keeper, and Colorado hit its try, putting Colorado up 4-3 and setting the stage for the Horns' dramatic comeback.

The Horns' 10th straight win puts them at 17-3-2 for the season, probably moving up from their No. 7 national ranking. (They're also something like 10-1 against nationally ranked teams.) It also earns them the Big 12's automatic berth to the 64-team NCAA Championship. The NCAA teams, seedings, pairings, and sites will be announced Monday, Nov. 6 on ESPNews at 2pm.

See TexasSports.com for more info.