| Box Score 4 RIVERSIDE, Mo. - Although it's a first-year program, William Woods University (15-8) earned a pair of wins at the NAIA Flag Finals. The Owls went all the way to the B Bracket championship, finishing as the runner-up in the fifth year of the competition, which was held from Monday to Thursday at the KC Current Training Facility.

William Woods opened Pool B play, taking on the team it played in its inaugural game, and its final game of the regular season, which resulted in an Owls forfeit win, Baker University (12-8). The third time around, WWU lost 41-0 to the Wildcats on Monday in the Flag Finals pool matchup.

"Today didn't go our way on the scoreboard, but what we gained was experience, and that's priceless," William Woods flag football coach Charlie Holloway said. "These girls showed courage, heart and resilience. We'll build from this, learn together and keep growing as a team."

Flipping it around Tuesday, the Owls bounced back and ended Pool B action with a 33-0 shutout win over in-state opponent Cottey College (5-11). The Owls were much more dominant than their 19-6 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference triumph against the Comets -during challenging times- on March 26 in Fulton.

"Proud of how our team responded today," Holloway said. "After a tough one yesterday, we came out with focus, energy and executed on both sides of the ball. Shutting out a quality team like Cottey and putting up 33 says a lot about our character and resilience."

On Wednesday, The Woods began its path to the B Bracket championship, facing another familiar KCAC foe, Southwestern College (7-10), in the semifinals. The Owls knocked out the Moundbuilders in postseason play for the second time in less than two weeks - at the same venue - earning a tight 21-20 victory. WWU went 3-0 against second-year program Southwestern, which won a game more than a season ago.

"Most teams would've quit being down 14-0 at half, but our girls responded in a different way," Holloway said. "A quick score and a huge INT by Kennedy Vannoy sparked the comeback. We showed the country how dangerous this team can be! I say this after each game, but I'm so incredibly proud of this group of young ladies."

William Woods wrapped up its first-year campaign against one of the best teams it has faced all year, one of the top women's college flag football programs at any college level, fifth-year Milligan University (21-4), based in Milligan, Tennessee. The Owls scored two touchdowns, one more than their first meeting with the Buffaloes on March 28 in Campbellsville, Kentucky, but ultimately fell 28-12 to Milligan. 

"Today's result doesn't define us, it reveals us," Holloway said. "An all-freshman team in a first-year program, defying the odds just to reach the finals. Through injuries, adversity and doubt, we rose. We found our why. This is only the beginning."

In Year 1, William Woods posted a 15-8 overall record and a 6-3 mark in the KCAC, reaching the KCAC Championship semifinals - lost 39-13 to Ottawa University, winners of the first five KCAC Championship titles - and finishing as B Bracket runner-up at the NAIA Flag Finals.