It’s not a dream.

It can’t be because no dream is scripted this perfect, this epic. And it’s not a dream because it’s real.

The women’s soccer team completed their amazing season by outlasting fifth-seeded Hofstra (11-8-3, 7-3-1 CAA) 1-0 in double overtime yesterday in Williamsburg, Va. to capture the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship. In doing so, they completed a comeback from their injury-riddled 2007 last- place finish and became the first sixth-seeded team ever to win the CAA championship.

“It’s incredible for us after what we went through last year and to have the least amount of scholarships in the CAA, it’s a tremendous accomplishment for us,” said head coach Ed Matz. “The kids on the team find a way to win games, the kids are very confident, they just find a way whether we are behind, ahead or tied.”

Junior forward Liza Rebello scored her seventh goal of the season with 5:06 left in the second overtime to send the Huskies (13-8-1, 6-5 CAA) to their first NCAA berth in the program’s 13-year history. The 13 wins are also the most in the team’s history.

Right before Rebello scored, freshman midfielder Gabbi Jatkola lofted a long shot from outside the box that Hofstra goalkeeper Krystal Robens slid and knocked away with her feet.

Rebello came charging into the box and stole the ball, drilling it into the open net.

“It was really exciting, it was a really close game. We just didn’t give up until the end,” Rebello said.

It was another good game for the Northeastern defense, which allowed only one goal in the three conference playoff games.

“It was a good game, a defensive battle, it was a very tight match,” Matz said. “Hofstra came out pretty strong but as the game went on, the momentum started to swing toward us. Going into the second overtime I told our kids to follow their shots. The field was muddy.”

Northeastern reached the championship game by defeating second-seeded James Madison (12-6-2, 8-3 CAA) Friday. Jatkola and senior forward Jenna Lucchesi scored for the Huskies. Lucchesi netted the game winner on a nice feed from freshman midfielder Erin McGaffigan.

Matz named Lucchesi team MVP of the playoffs, capping off an extraordinary comeback from a serious compound leg fracture Sept. 30, 2007 at Towson.

“I could have chose anyone for the MVP of the tournament, everyone is deserving. [Lucchesi] has such a great spirit great – heart, great work ethic,” Matz said.

Lucchesi was also named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player by the CAA. Freshman keeper Stephanie Gordon, who had 19 saves in the tournament was named to the All-Tournament team, along with sophomore defender Tinna Nielsen and senior defender Emilee Ellison.

“We kept saying we can’t believe it [after the game],” Lucchesi said. “We can’t believe it, after all we’ve been through this season. We really deserve it, we worked so hard. Today was a day that everyone really put their heart into.”

Prior to the championship match, a pair of Huskies were honored on Thursday night by the CAA.

Forward Veronica Napoli was named CAA Rookie of Year at the CAA awards banquet. She was also picked to the All-Rookie team and All-CAA third team. Joining her on the All-Rookie and All-CAA third teams was Jatkola.

Napoli led the Huskies during the regular season with 12 goals and five assists for 29 points. Her 12 goals were tied for fourth in the CAA. Her 12 goals and 29 points are both second-best in a single season at Northeastern behind only Keri Irwin (1996). She was named CAA Rookie of the Week three times and was also named CAA Player of the Week Sept. 29.

“It’s a really big honor,” Napoli said. “I’m really happy to have deserved it. There are so many other potential people on our team who could have gotten it, any of us deserved it.”

Napoli’s tremendous breakaway speed makes her a threat to score anytime she touches the ball, Matz said.

“She’s so deserving, definitely deserved to be Rookie of the Year,” Matz said. “Before it’s all said and done she will own all of Northeastern’s scoring records.”

Jatkola finished the year third on the team behind Napoli and Rebello with six goals and three assists.

As the weather grew colder, her play got hotter, as she closed CAA play by scoring in four of her last five games.

“Gabbi is an important part of our midfield,” Matz said. “She opens up a lot of things for Veronica with her outside shooting, it’s fitting that they were All-CAA together.”

This is the second CAA championship for Northeastern athletics since the team joined the conference prior to the 2005-06 season. The women’s track and field team won the CAA title in 2007.

The women’s soccer team will play its first round game Friday, Nov. 14 at a location and against an opponent to be determined today. The NCAA Tournament selection show is today at 8 p.m. and will air live on ESPNEWS. The school will be showing the selection show at the Varsity Club in Matthews Arena or at the Alumni Center on the sixth floor of 716 Columbus Avenue. GoNU.com will have the official location today. It will also be broadcast on GoNU.TV.

“Everyone went through having four wins and being dead last in the conference [last season]. It’s pretty unreal, kind of a like a Cinderella story,” Lucchesi said. “It’s probably the opposite of baby steps, everyone worked really hard, with leadership all the way from the top down. Everyone contributed, which I think is the best part.”

But perhaps Matz summed it up best.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back to Boston as CAA champions,” he said.