MADISON, WISC. - Thanks to a resounding 5-0 defeat of Harper College on Saturday at Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Pitch-East, the Madison College women's soccer team claimed the 2022 NJCAA Region 4 Division III Tournament Championship for a second consecutive season, and for the fourth time in six years. Sophomore Lexi Kulow scored two of the team's five goals and dished out two assists en route to being named the Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player, while head coach Matt Schwartz was awarded his fourth Region 4 Coach of the Year honor. The WolfPack, ranked tenth in the NJCAA Division III Poll, and the Hawks both qualify for the NJCAA Great Lakes District Tournament, which will run October 28-29.

Sophomore Liz Foye started the scoring blitz for Madison College with a 28' goal that was unassisted. The midfielder received a throw-in, and used a head touch and a foot tap to get past a Harper College (1-8-2) defender, which left her one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Foye's goal marks her fifth of the season. The lead grew to 2-0 in the first half when freshman Kierstin McHugh netted the first of her two goals on the day. McHugh took a Kulow pass and made a quick re-direction move to evade a defender before firing just inside the right post in the 36'. Before the half ended, first year midfielder Mahala Frey sent a centering pass that was misplayed and bounced through the goalie box before Kulow raced in to lob a kick over the goalkeeper and make it a three-goal differential.



The second half saw two more goals from the WolfPack, starting with Kulow setting up McHugh for a fast break goal in the 60'. The Madison, Wisconsin, native went low to beat the 'keeper for her fifth goal in 2022. Kulow capped her six point day with a 68' goal off a McHugh corner kick that sailed past the penalty box. Kulow worked it back into the box and wrapped a kick around a pair of defenders. 

Madison College held narrow advantages in total shots (22-19) and shots on goal (14-12). Freshman goalkeeper Morgan Thompson recorded a dozen saves for her second-highest single-match total this season. The shutout is her fourth complete match clean sheet this fall.

Kulow, a native of DeForest, Wisconsin, led the WolfPack with seven total shots and six shots on goal. The two-goal performance is the first of her career, and gives her 12 career goals. Savi Pursley and Madison Johnson each had four total shots. McHugh finished with three shots on goal and five total points. It was her second two-goal match in 2022. 

"We had a great week of training. The players were focused and worked hard. We adjusted our attacking game plan and really gave out kids a lot of reps to get it down, which paid off. It's really fun as a coach when you challenge the players to adjust to something new and then you watch it work in a big match like this past weekend," stated coach Schwartz. "I'm so proud of this team. We've had a ton of adversity this season. Our players could have come up with every excuse from injuries to losing players for the year, and every time they stepped up and I couldn't ask for more from this special group. What a fun group of players to work with this is! It was a highlight of my career here to watch them celebrate their region championship!"

Madison College is now 13-4-1 all-time against the Hawks, and has won six consecutive matches included all three meetings in 2022. The WolfPack is a perfect 2-0 in postseason meetings with the Hawks.

Up Next:

Tenth-ranked Madison College (7-4-2), which  will remain at home for a NJCAA Great Lakes District Tournament Semifinal on Friday, October 28 against Region 12 champion Delta College (12-1-2). The Pioneers are ranked #2 in the latest poll, and have played in four straight NJCAA national championship games, including a runner-up finish last season. This will mark the fourth postseason meeting between the two programs, with Delta College claiming victory in all three prior contests. Kickoff at Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Pitch-East is set for 2:00 p.m. The winner will advance to the championship match on Saturday, October 29 at noon against the winner of the other semifinal between Harper College and Region 13 winner #5 Rochester Community & Technical College, which will be played in Palatine, Illinois. 

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