North Central Community College Conference champs. Check.
NJCAA Region IV champs. Check.
NJCAA Division III National Tournament qualifier. Check.
National Champions. To be determined...

The Madison College women's soccer team has put together its single greatest season in just its fourth year of existence. But it will also go down as one of the single greatest seasons in the history of Madison College athletics, regardless of sport. The fifth-seeded WolfPack (15-1-2) will open the NJCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championships on Thursday with a quarterfinal match against fourth-seeded Delta (MI) College (14-1-1). The tournament will take place at Panther Stadium, home of Tompkins Cortland Community College in Dryden, New York.

Making it this far was a goal of this team all season. An achievement that came as no surprise to anyone within the team's inner circle.

"To me it mean's a lot that the players came together and played hard all season," said head coach Matt Schwartz (full video interview above in title picture) about his second season with the program. "I knew right from the start that this was going to be a special group, in terms of talent. I said it before, I think if we get the chemistry right on the field, there's really no limit to what this group is going to be able to accomplish, and I think that you're seeing that now."

Madison College broke through several barriers to earn a share of their first-ever N4C title with a 9-1-2 conference mark, finishing ever with Joliet Junior College with an .833 winning percentage. The regular season also saw some impressive individual performances, especially from a pair of first year players from DeForest, Wisconsin, that left their mark on the program's record books. Strike Britt Schumann tallied 25 goals to leave the program's all-time goals scored record in her dust as she blew past it in just a dozen matches. Schumann twice put together scoring runs of 11 goals in five games and finished with nine multi-goal efforts. Her 56 total points also set a new all-time career mark in that category. Helping make it all happen was longtime friend Peyton Trapino, who brought her passing skills as the Madison College women's basketball point guard to the soccer pitch and dished out 20 assists to break the single season record. Trapino, who scored 11 goals of her own this season, sits one assist shy of tying the career program record for helpers.

Not to be outdone, goalkeeper Brandie Gospodarek has continued her stellar career in net, doubling her record setting performance as a freshman with eight shutouts in her second year. Her 0.58 goals against average and .881 save percentage could also break school records she already owns.

"Throughout the year it was non-stop, because we knew what we had to do to get it done," stated Trapino of the team goal to reach the national tournament. "We have so many talented girls, and we just pushed ourselves to the absolute limit and got it done."

After ending the regular season with a loss and a tie, Madison College regrouped and refocused for a postseason run to history. The WolfPack stormed past Milwaukee Area Technical College, 11-0, to reach the NJCAA Region IV Tournament Semifinals for the fourth consecutive year. However, for the first time in team history, the season would not end there as Tianna Sackett scored a pair of goals to push the 'Pack past Harper College, 3-1, and into the title match. The WolfPack had split pair of regular season matches with Joliet en route to splitting the league crown, and 13 days after dropping a 2-1 match to the Wolves on their home turf, Madison College used a 4' goal from Erin True and six saves by Gospodarek to earn a 1-0 win for the Region IV trophy.

One final test loomed, with a trip to Minnesota to play Region XIII champ Anoka-Ramsey Community College for the NJCAA District D Championship and a spot in the national tournament. Even at one-goal-a-piece, the teams went to overtime, where freshman Esther Noriega found the back of the net less than two minutes in for a 2-1 sudden-victory win that sent Madison College into a frenzied celebration and on their way to New York.

Now the focus is on another major step forward for the young program, and both Schwartz and Trapino believe the WolfPack is in the right position to add to this historic season.

"I think the kids are ready. They have a great attitude going into it. I don't feel the sense that they're necessarily nervous about anything. I think they're just excited to get out there and excited to continue to compete."

"Honestly, there's no nerves, it's super exciting. Pretty much just making history for this whole season, so nothing but excitement."



Their quarterfinals opponent, the Delta College Pioneers, are also making their first national tournament appearance. The second-ranked team in the latest NJCAA DIII Poll finished the season with similar statistical numbers as the WolfPack. However, coach Schwartz says it's the non-statistical parts of the game where he things the Pioneers are at their best.

"We know that they are very organized defensively. It's going to be a game of one or two goals, I think. We just have to do our job. The focus, I have tried to keep it on us all season. Not worrying about the other teams. Not worrying about what they're trying to do. Let the coaching staff worry about that. I want our players focusing on our game plan and what we're trying to do, and its been a recipe for success all season long."

Three games. Three wins. For one more goal checked off.

Thursday's winner advances to play the winner of top-seeded Herkimer County (NY) Community College and eighth-seeded Nassau (NY) Community College on Friday afternoon. The loser will open consolation play Friday morning.

For more information on the tournament, including live streaming options, click here.

For more information on the other seven qualifiers, including the Delta College Pioneers, click here.

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