MADISON, WISC. - A day that began with a celebration of nine second-year players who had led the Madison College women's soccer team to a third consecutive North Central Community College Conference title, ended with Rock Valley College earning a 2-1 win at Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Pitch-East to keep their own league title hopes alive. The Golden Eagles rallied from an early 1-0 WolfPack lead to earn a split of the regular season series, and set themselves up for a chance at sharing the crown with a win over Joliet Junior College on Thursday. The setback snaps a five-match run without a loss in the head-to-head series, which now stands at 7-4-1 in favor of RVC. 

Madison College, which entered the match as the #8-ranked team in the NJCAA Division III Poll, executed a perfect set play on a corner kick in the 33'. Very similar to a play used to defeat Rock Valley College 2-1 in September, sophomore Kaitlyn Clapper perfectly placed a corner kick out front of the goal and freshman Mackenzie Bielicki came flying in a successful header to give the 'Pack a 1-0 lead in the same manner the duo combined for the game-winner in Rockford. Bielicki, a native of Findlay, Ohio, now boasts four goals, including scores in back-to-back games. For Clapper, a Lodi, Wisconsin, nativie, the assist was her first of the year.



Unfortunately, the lead lasted a mere 95 seconds before Rock Valley College (9-2-1, 7-2) notched the equalizer against sophomore goalkeeper Kelly Kubicek. It remained 1-1 into the second half until the Golden Eagles had a run out in the 70' that was initially denied by Kubicek, but the rebound trickled near the goalline and RVC won the race to it for the game-winning goal.
 
The visitors posted a 10-7 advantage in total shots and a 9-3 edge in shots on goal. Kubicek was credited with seven saves before taking her third loss in the last three matches. Cappaert and freshman Lydia Webster recorded the other two shots on goal, with Webster's coming in the first 20 minutes and Cappaert hitting the crossbar shortly after the Golden Eagles took the lead.

Prior to kickoff, the WolfPack and Madison College recognized the commitment and sacrfices made by the team's nine sophomore, who were playing their final regular season home game. The group features Anna Cappaert, Kaitlyn Clapper, Lillian Glackin, Breanna Griffin, Jenna Kohrt, Kelly Kubicek, Emily Messer, Kaitlyn Satern, and Lauren Thole. The video of the Sophomore Day ceremony can be found above.

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Madison College (10-3-1, 8-2) will now host a NJCAA Region IV Division III Tournament Quarterfinal match on Wednesday, October 23, but must wait for the tournament seeds to be announced to determine their opponent. Coach Matt Schwartz and the WolfPack have reached the Region IV title match in each of the past two seasons, claiming the championship in 2017 for the first and only time in program history. 

All home Madison College women's soccer matches can be streamed live at MadisonCollege.tv.

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