MADISON, WISC. - It was certainly not the way coach Matt Schwartz and the Madison College women's soccer team envisioned the postseason playing out, especially with home field advantage guaranteed all the way to the national tournament. However, as sports often does, Wednesday's 3-0 loss to second-seeded Joliet Junior College in the NJCAA Region IV Division III Championship, proved that even the best-laid plans don't always come to fruition. The top-seeded WolfPack, one year after reaching the program's first NJCAA Division III National Tournament and weeks since clinching a second straight North Central Community College Conference title, ended their season with an 11-2-1 record and without defending their Region IV and District D crowns.

Playing a competitive match for the first time in two weeks and just their third game in the month of October due to cancellations and forfeits, the WolfPack struggled to find their groove. Freshman goalkeeper Kelly Kubicek kept the rematch of last year's championship with the Wolves close with some incredible first half saves, sending the match into halftime scoreless.



In the second half, JJC began to force the issue and apply more pressure to the Madison College defense. That pressure finally broke through with 55' goal by sophomore Miranda Nirchi, who would go on to earn Region IV Tournament MVP honors. An apparent second goal a few minutes later was called off due to offsides, but the Wolves did strike again in the 65' with a Katherine Rasmussen header off a corner kick.

Madison College worked to get back in the game, but came up empty on a couple of good looks at the net throughout the second half. Joliet Junior College (16-3-1) iced the game away with a third and final goal in the 87' to capture the Region IV trophy with their third victory in 13 all-time meetings against the WolfPack. The win advances JJC to the District D Championship on Sunday against the winner of Saturday's District D Semifinal between Delta College (Region XII) and Anoka-Ramsey Community College (Region XIII). Both games will be played in Joliet, Illinois.



The Wolves owned a 20-8 advantage in total shots and a 10-6 edge in shots on goal. Sophomores Peyton Trapino and Britt Schumann led the 'Pack with two shots on goal each. The duo from DeForest, Wisconsin, will leave the program with nearly every offensive record and postseason honor. 

Kubicek, a native of Oregon, Wisconsin, made seven saves, and finished the season with ten goals allowed to place her within the top ten nationally for goal allowed and goals-against average (0.77). She also ends the season tied for the most shutouts in a single season in program history with eight.

Prior to the game, Madison College honored and recognized the five-member Sophomore Class of 2018, which included Cintia Temozihui Zecua, Autumn Petroski, Esther Noriega, Schumann, and Trapino.



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