MADISON, WISC. - Playing through wind, rain, and dropping temperatures, the Madison College and College of DuPage women's soccer teams went beyond the allotted 110 minutes of play to decide their NJCAA Region IV Division III Tournament Quarterfinal match in penalty kicks, which was won 4-3 by the WolfPack on Wednesday night at Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Pitch-East. Sophomore Jenna Kohrt kicked in the game-tying goal in the second half, and was the joined by teammates Anna Cappaert, Lydia Webster, and Mackenzie Bielicki in converting four of five penalty kicks to send the #2 WolfPack past the #7 Chaparrals and into the semifinals. The win is the first postseason victory over COD in four total meetings for the 'Pack.

Madison College, which has now won seven straight matches over the College of DuPage, started sluggish and fell behind 1-0 when a ball sent back to sophomore goalkeeper Kelly Kubicek by a Madison College defender was intercepted. Kubicek left the goalie box to make a play on the ball and it left the Chaparrals' McKayla Garcia with a wide open net in the 34'.

The WolfPack picked up the tempo, energy, and pressure in the second half and kept possession of the ball in their offensive half for a vast majority of the final 45 minutes. That instantly paid off with a quick change in possession in the deep in the College of DuPage zone by Kohrt, who beat three defenders and the 'keeper for the equalizer goal less than four minutes into the second half. The midfielder from Monona, Wisconsin, now owns a team-leading nine goals on the season. Despite seven more shots and four corner kicks, the 'Pack was unable to net the game-winner in regulation.



The home team had several chances to score in the first overtime, with none bigger than a penalty kick for freshman forward/winger Haylee Miles. Her strike seemed headed for the back of the goal just inside the near post when Chaparrals goalie Lauren Diddia made a spectacular diving save to keep playing going. Neither team generated a single shot throughout the second overtime period, setting up a dramatic best of five penalty kick shootout.

The shootout opened with Kubicek making her own diving save off to her left, however, Kaitlyn Clapper, a second year defender, followed with a shot off the crossbar to keep both teams off the board through the first round. Madison College and the College of DuPage then alternated successful strikes in rounds two through four. With the final kickers stepping up, the 'Pack was gifted a chance to kick for the win when the last COD attempt sailed over the goal and brought Bielicki to the penalty area. The freshman from Findlay, Ohio, who already had clutch game-winning goals in three prior games that included a golden goal overtime kick against DuPage two weeks prior, punched a lightly contested shot inside the right post to give Madison College the win and start the celebration.



Madison College finished with a 20-4 advantage in total shots and a 10-4 lead in shots on goal, with the College of DuPage (3-9-1) only registering one shot over the final 69 minutes. The 'Pack also held a 10-1 edge in corner kicks. Bielicki and Kohrt each had five total shots, with Kohrt leading the team in shots on goal with three. 

Kubicek, a former Oregon High School athlete, was credited with three saves, though that does not include the key save in the penalty kick shootout.

After sweeping the regular season series with a pair of 1-0 wins over the Chaparrals, the WolfPack is 7-9 all-time against the College of DuPage.

Up Next:

Madison College (10-3-2) has reached the semifinal round for the sixth consecutive year and will host #3 Elgin Community College (10-3-1) on Saturday, October 26. The WolfPack and Spartans played to a 1-1 draw in Madison on September 20, which snapped a five-match winning streak for the 'Pack in the head-to-head series. Elgin's lone win against Madison College came in 2014. Saturday's match will mark the second postseason meeting between the two programs, however, the first was a 1-0 win awarded to the WolfPack in last year's semifinals via forfeit. Kickoff at Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Pitch-East is set for 12:00 p.m.



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

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