WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – It took extra time to decide the Sun Conference championship, and Keiser University found the answer in overtime, handing SEU a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat Wednesday afternoon at Arrigo-Vecellio Stadium.

In a matchup between two of the conference's top teams, the Fire went toe-to-toe with an undefeated Keiser squad in an entertaining championship battle that featured momentum swings, big defensive stops and plenty of drama until the final whistle.

After a scoreless first half, the game quickly came to life following the break. Keiser struck first in the 49th minute when Ruby Vernon found the back of the net off an assist from Steingerthur Snorrad to give the Seahawks a 1-0 advantage.

SEU didn't take long to respond.

Just over a minute later, Momo Sato answered with a goal of her own, finding the back of the net from a tight angle in the 50th minute to bring the Fire level at 1-1. The quick response brought new energy to SEU and shifted the momentum, setting up an exciting second half between the conference rivals.

Both sides continued to create opportunities, but the goalkeepers and defensive units made sure neither team could find the breakthrough. SEU goalkeeper Madison Songer came up with nine saves throughout the afternoon, repeatedly keeping the Fire within striking distance as Keiser generated 24 shots.

On the other end, SEU continued to look for its opportunity to take the lead. Sara Irurozki and Sato helped lead the Fire's attacking efforts, combining for nine shots, while the team finished with 12 attempts.

As the clock wound down in regulation, neither team could find a winner, sending the championship contest into overtime with the score deadlocked at 1-1.

The extra period brought even more tension as both teams looked for the deciding moment. Songer continued her impressive afternoon with another pair of saves, but Keiser eventually found its opening.

Just four minutes into overtime, Emilia Nilsson scored off an assist from Delia Letelier to give the Seahawks the 2-1 victory and bring the championship contest to a dramatic close.

Despite the result, the Fire put together a determined performance against a Keiser team that entered the championship undefeated at 15-0-3. SEU finished the season at 14-4-1, while Keiser improved to 15-0-3.

Songer's nine saves highlighted the defensive effort, while Sato's second-half equalizer gave the Fire a chance to compete for the championship until the very end.

The Fire's season will wait to see who they will face in the National Tournament.