Ultimately, the goal every year is to get to the NJCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championships. However, Madison College head coach Matt Schwartz fully understands that making it to New York in November is completely dependent on taking care of business in Wisconsin and Illinois from August through October. He has made it abundantly clear to the 2022 WolfPack that furthering their reign in Region 4 sets up the possibilities for much bigger successes.

"Conference titles are nice, but we are looking to continue our dominance within Region 4 competition. After winning the region title in 2021, our primary objective is to defend our crown, as well as reach the NJCAA Great Lakes District Final for a chance to go to the national tournament. This will be a very fun and exciting WolfPack squad to watch this fall."

Madison College has claimed five consecutive North Central Community College Conference championships since winning their first in 2017, which was the only year the team qualified for the national tournament. During that same run, the seventh-year head coach has guided the Pack to three Region 4 titles.

One of the biggest hurdles facing this year's squad will be the massive hole left by the graduation of two-time All-American Angelina Perez, as well as 67% of the total scoring from last fall. (Perez is attempting to walk-on at NCAA Division I University of Wisconsin-Madison.)

"We are returning a core group of defenders and midfielders from the 2021 season. Along with the talented incoming class we should be very difficult to break down. We have always been very organized and will look to continue that trend this fall. Our front 6 will be dangerous for opponents to engage with and have the capability to create tons of scoring opportunities."

Sophomore midfielders Lexi Kulow, Taylor Peterson, and Liz Foye are the top returning goal scorers from 2021, combining for 12 scoring strikes by the trio of all-conference and all-region players. Second year defender Sydney Maksymo, the Region 4 Tournament MVP last year, headlines the back line, along with fellow postseason award winners Paris Rose and Marin Stauffacher.

"We have a great group of returners coming back this fall that I am very happy I get to work with again. They have a lot of experience and talent to bring to the 2022 team and I know they are extremely motivated to find success. I couldn't ask for a better group of returners to lead us this season."

Another returning player is defender Kenzie Bielicki, an All-N4C and All-Region 4 selection in 2019 after netting five goals and dishing out two assists. The Findaly, Ohio, native helped the WolfPack reach the district tournament in her lone season, but may feel more like a newcomer after not playing the past two seasons. She joins an incoming group the appears primed for an explosive debut.

"Our incoming class of first years is a very exciting group. I have been thinking all summer about how they will mix with the team this fall and every day that went by got me more hyped. Working with them along with our returning players has been everything I expected and more. With a class like this coming in I am hoping to have a special fall campaign."

Schwartz says forward Madison Johnson and defender Peyton Yaun have stood out during fall camp, but will not be surprised to see consistent contributions from the rest of the freshman group.

The difference might come down to the play in net, and as a result, the 2022 roster has three goalkeepers vying for time. Hope McFarlin returns after making 17 saves and allowing nine goals over five matches played in 2021, and will be battling freshmen Morgan Thompson and Olivia Lange for the starting role.

Madison College will get a tough test out of the gate with a road trip to Rochester Community & Technical College in the season opener on Saturday, August 20. The Yellowjackets, who battled the Pack to a 1-0 decision in the district semifinal last fall, is receiving votes in the NJCAA Division III Preseason Poll. The two teams will square off again a week later in the WolfPack's home opener at Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Pitch - East. The N4C slate is scheduled to begin on September 7 with a home date against in-state rival Milwaukee Area Technical College

This year's conference and region competition is down to four teams after Rock Valley College moved up to Division II and left the N4C. So if the WolfPack can survive to reach the district round, it could come down to a rematch with 2021 national runner-up Delta College, who ousted the Pack in 2021 and begins 2022 as the #2-ranked team in the preseason poll.

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