Concordia university (44-17) was unable to overcome a 3-0 deficit as they were defeated 3-2 by #2 emporia state (58-5) in the ncaa north central regional championship game on monday afternoon at turnbull field in emporia, kansas.

senior pitcher kristen schmidt, who surrendered a two run home run in the first inning and later allowed an unearned run, was named the north central regional tournament most valuable player after throwing her seventh complete game in the tournament.

schmidt compiled a 5-2 record during cu's run to the title game with 76 strikeouts in 50.1 innings of work, allowing only 19 hits with a perfect game and a one-hitter. She allowed ten runs in seven games, with only seven earned.

amanda yurek and vanessa dufresne were also named to the all-tournament team. Yurek led all-hitters with a .409 batting average, going 9-22 with a home run and four rbi. Dufresne finished with seven hits in 20 at bats (.350) with four runs scored.

she also helped her own cause as she drilled a two run homer in the sixth inning to cut the deficit to one run, but the bears went down in order in the final frame.

the golden bears matched their school-record 44 wins, set last season when they went to the ncaa elite tournament after winning the regional. They also made their third consecutive trip to the regional tournament and they have appeared in the title game in all three seasons.

2006 north central all-tournament team
pitcher - concordia - kristin schmidt
pitcher - emporia state - melissa stevens
catcher - neb.omaha - brianna cataudella
infielder - augustana - jessica cooper
infielder - concordia - amanda yurek
infielder - emporia state - megan davison
infielder - emporia state - bree beattie
outfielder - mo. Western - nicole heineman
outfielder - concordia - vanessa dufresne
outfielder - emporia state - laura pfautsch
dp - neb.-omaha - shilo jorgensen
at large - augustana - katie krauth
at large - emporia state - courtney reed
mvp - concordia - kristen schmidt