ROCKFORD, ILL. - The third matchup this season between Madison College and Rock Valley College ended just like the previous two with the road team earning a one-goal victory, however, the win also gave the victor the 2019 NJCAA Region IV Division III Women's Soccer Championship. The #2 WolfPack netted a 73' goal by freshman Emma Strieker to overcome the #1 Golden Eagles 1-0 in the rubber match between two teams that split the North Central Community College Conference crown during the regular season. Playing in their third consecutive region final, the 'Pack secured its second Region IV title and will advance to the NJCAA Great Lakes District Tournament this upcoming weekend.

Madison College, which was leapfrogged by Rock Valley College in the NJCAA Division III Poll and dropped from #9 to #10, generated a few more offensive opportunities throughout the game's first 45 minutes. The Golden Eagles lone shot on goal came just 13' in and was denied by sophomore goalkeeper Kelly Kubicek. Her counterpart from RVC was up to the challenge, picking up saves against a pair shots sent her way in the 19' and 20'. The defenses took over for the rest of the half and kept the match scoreless into the second half. 

Coach Matt Schwartz, who led the WolfPack to a Region IV title in 2017, made a substitution move in the 65' and brought in Strieker for sophomore Kaitlin Satern. The decision paid off as the WolfPack attempted three shots, including two on goal, over the next seven minutes to set the stage for the eventual game-winner. As the clock stretched into a 73', first year defender Grace Bujan found Strieker and the midfielder from Janesville, Wisconsin, punched it through to the back of the net. The goal was the first career scoring strike for Strieker, while Bujan tallied her second assist of the year.

Kubicek and the defense made the 1-0 lead hold up by limiting Rock Valley College (13-3) to two total shots and one on goal through the final whistle. The Oregon, Wisconsin, native set a new school record with her ninth shutout of the season as she kept her second consecutive postseason opponent without a goal. Kubicek now boasts 17 career shutouts and finished the Region IV title match with two saves. 

Following the match, Strieker was named the Region IV Tournament Most Valuable Player and Matt Schwartz was awarded the Region IV Coach of the Year after guiding Madison College to its second Region IV titles in just six years as a program, and fourth under his guidance.



Up Next:

Madison College (12-3-2) advances to the NJCAA Great Lakes District Tournament to square off against the champions of Region XII and Region XIII in Blaine, Minnesota. The WolfPack will open with a Saturday, November 2 semifinal match against Delta College (MI), which defeated Schoolcraft College (MI) by a 3-0 final to win the Region XII title. The Pioneers a perfect 14-0 and currently ranked #2 in the NJCAA DIII Poll. The two schools have only met once before when Delta College defeated the 'Pack 1-0 in the opener of the 2017 NJCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championships.

The games will be streamed live here.

The winner will play for the district title on Sunday, November 3 against Region XIII champion and tournament host Anoka-Ramsey Community College (9-2-1). Madison College defeated the Golden Rams by a 2-0 final in Minnesota to open the 2019 season and is 2-1 in the head-to-head series. The other win was also the only prior postseason meeting, with the WolfPack taking a 2-1 road victory in 2017 to qualify for the national tournament.

Both matches will kick off at 1:00 p.m. and be played at the National Sports Center.

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