MADISON, WISC. - Madison College knew it would be a tall order, and in the end, that exactly what it proved to be when trying to make their way through the NJCAA Great Lake District Women's Soccer Tournament, held Friday and Saturday, October 29-30 at Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Pitch-East. The WolfPack advance through the semifinal with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Rochester Community & Technical College, and eventually fell 5-0 to defending national champion Delta College in the championship. The 2021 season ends with a 9-5-1 record, and marks  the third appearance in the district tournament in the past five seasons for coach Matt Schwartz and his program.

Semifinal: Madison College 1, Rochester Community & Technical College 0

With each team having won on the other's home field during two meetings in the regular season, it was no surprise the rubber match between two teams each receiving votes in the final NJCAA Division III Poll would prove to be an intense struggle. The WolfPack, champions of Region 4, controlled the possession for nearly the entirety of the match against stingy defense of Rochester, the Region 13 champions. The first half saw Madison College generate four total shots with freshman Taylor Peterson and sophomore Angeline Perez each putting one on goal, while the 'Pack also set up a pair of corner kicks, en route to settling for a 0-0 tie at the half. 

The second half seemed destined for a much similar storyline. The Yellowjackets, yet to register a single shot of their own against the WolfPack defense, were up to the task through the first three shot attempts by the home team, including one by freshman Taylor Peterson that was denied. Everything changed 75-minutes into the match when first year defender Paris Rose had possession of the ball thanks to a Peterson pass towards the left sideline, and after a nifty move to get past a Rochester defender, she lobbed a scoring strike just over the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper and just inside the opposite post to put Madison College on top 1-0. The goal was the first collegiate goal for the Lodi, Wisconsin, native. 



The WolfPack spent the final 15 minutes continuing to try and create offense, while also keeping the ball away from RCTC to preserve the one-goal lead. In the end, the 'Pack boast a 9-0 advantage in total shots and a 5-0 edge in shots on goal that left freshman goalkeeper Karmen Smyth without much action in front of her during the 90-minute match. 

The win propelled Madison College into the district championship for the second time in school history, and gave the WolfPack a 2-1 all-time lead over Rochester Community & Technical College (9-3). 

Championship: Delta College 5, Madison College 0

The defending NJCAA Division III champions from Delta College entered the district title match ranked as the #1 team in the NJCAA Division III Poll and riding a 28-match win streak after an resounding 19-0 victory over Region 4 runners-up, Harper College. The Region 12 champs wasted no time against Madison College, netting a 2' goal from Faith Webber, the nation's second-leading goal scorer. The 1-0 lead held up into the 24' minute when the Pioneers struck again with their second unassisted goal. The WolfPack tightened up for the rest of the half and still trailed 2-0 as the match moved into the second half.

Unfortunately, the Pioneers were able to duplicate that first half performance, starting with a goal one minute in. They continued to added successful scoring strikes in the 60' and 73' to surge to a 5-0 advantage. Madison College, which did not post a single shot in the first half, tried to get back in the match with some offense in the second half, but were only able to generate a pair of attempts from All-American Angelina Perez, the second of which was saved by the Delta College (16-0) goalkeeper.

Freshman 'keeper Karmen Smyth, making just her third start in net, was credited with a career-best 13 saves against five goals allowed. In all, the Pioneers produced 26 total shots and 18 shots on goal.

Madison College is winless in three all-time meetings with Delta College, including losses in the opening round of the 2017 national tournament in Dryden, New York, and the 2019 Great Lakes District Tournament Semifinal in Blaine, Minnesota.

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