HAYWARD — National champions.

Five days later and the words still haven't sunk in for the Cal State University East Bay women's water polo team.

But the Pioneers did indeed capture the school's first national title in any sport in 20 years and first in water polo Sunday with a thrilling 7-6 four-overtime victory over Cal Lutheran in the Division III finals in New London, Conn.

"It is very surreal," said Cal State coach Lisa DeRossi-Cooper, who was named Coach of the Year. "It is a dream come true. My girls did the hard work, and I am so proud of them. It was unreal to go 5-0 in the national tournament like we did."

Ashley Vieira, one of 10 seniors on the squad, made it a reality with the golden goal in the fourth overtime of the marathon-title game. Her shot to the upper-corner of the cage will be tattooed in the memories of all 17 players on the roster.

"Honestly, I didn't even see it go in," Vieira said. "I seen the team on the bench sit up and start freaking out, so I knew at that point it went in. The bench pushed our coaches in the water, which was exciting. Everyone came rushing to me and pretty much I was drowning. It was one of those moments that you will never forget."

"There was this sense of disbelief," senior goalkeeper Elise Wilhelmsen said. "Because, as a goalie, I have never ever won a sudden death. I have been goalie for four years, and it has always gone in on me in sudden death. The best way to describe my reaction is,

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'oh my gosh, I can't believe this just happened to me.'"

Wilhelmsen, who didn't start playing water polo until college, put together a string of outstanding games in the cage for the Pioneers and earned the MVP award.

"I was shocked and excited," she said. "MVP usually goes to those people who score all the time. All I did in the game was deny people those kind of shots. ... My dad was there, and that made it even bigger. He played in college and was a goalie and was kind of my mentor. I was really excited that he was able to see me get it."

The season ended in dream-come-true fashion, but earning that finish wasn't easy for the Pioneers. Tragedy struck in March, as the mother of twins, Laura and Jeanette Demeneces, died of cancer.

Nobody would have thought any less of the Demeneces had they sat out the rest of the season. But both were back in the pool three weeks after the death of their mother, Irma.

"It hit everybody really hard and fast," DeRossi-Cooper said. "It was really big for them to come back after such a tragedy. All the kids really pulled together. It was like a second family for them."

And the strength of the Demeneces to come back to the team helped pull together Cal State, which at times fell into a lull of playing as individuals rather than team water polo.

"I think it kind of jolted us when Laura and Jeanette's mother died," Wilhelmsen said. "It showed us that life is really short, and we can't be petty about anything."

Through April 25, the Pioneers were 13-14. But Cal State would go on to win its final seven games of the year to turn in the history-making 20-14 season.

"It was a roller coaster for everyone," Vieira said. "Toward the end of the season we started to click together as a team. It made me realize how long it takes, and the effort and time it takes for a team to win and excel. I realized that if a team puts in the effort, it can win."

Not to mention, become national champions.