2009 NJCAA National Tournament
Johnson County Community College earned its first trip to the NJCAA National Women’s Soccer Division I Tournament in the 2009 season. The Lady Cavaliers went into the 10-team tournament looking to become first school from Kansas to win a national soccer title, JCCC nearly pulled that off. JCCC did reach the national championship match, but fell 3-0 to Tyler Junior College, the host of the tournament.
JCCC entered the national tournament on a roll, winning three games in the region tournament and two in districts by shutout. Three of their five wins to get to nationals were against nationally ranked teams.
“We were excited and honored to be the first school from our region to make it,” Schwab said.
However, Schwab did not want his team to just be happy making it there, he wanted them to believe they belonged and could contend for a national championship. All of the qualifying teams at nationals were solid programs, but JCCC would face one of the toughest tests in the opening of the 2009 Championship, facing Polk State College, the No. 1 ranked team in the country.
The Lady Cavaliers posted a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Polk State, winning for the first time in 2009 when allowing an opponent to score. JCCC was 0-6 in those matches before this win.
Johnson County found themselves down 1-0 just 12 minutes into the match, and Vikings held onto that lead at the break, but JCCC came out in the second half and quickly knotted the game at 1-1 on a goal by sophomore Chelsie Shepard just 2:54 after the start of the period. Freshman Emily McKinney provided the assist.
“I told the team at halftime they need to play to their ability, and if they played just a little above that, we would win,” Schwab said. “I asked them if they thought they had done that in the first half, and not one raised their hand. We came out in the second half with more energy, and when Chelsie scored, it was like a light bulb went on, and they saw they belonged here.”
The Lady Cavaliers took the lead for good just over two minutes later when freshman Whitney Peavler fired a shot past Polk State keeper Sarah Berberian on an assist from freshman Rachel Pride.
Johnson County followed with another history making victory in the semifinal match, downing Paradise Valley, 1-0. It was the 18th shutout of the season for sophomore goalkeeper Kelly Voigts, putting in her elite company. By earning her 18th shutout of the season, she tied the NJCAA single season record held by Danielle Trocha of Lewis & Clark and Janet Rode of Nassau Community College
Shepard and McKinney again hooked up, with Shepard netting the game winner in the 57th minute. Voigts stopped 12 Paradise Valley shots.
“They worked their tails off and the defense played extremely well,” Schwab said. “Also, our fitness played a big part of our success down the stretch.
In the championship match, JCCC not only had to face a tough opponent, but had to battle them on their home field. Tyler Junior College, host of the tournament, earned its first trip to nationals as well in 2009.
Early in the match, freshman defender Kaylee Sextro had to come out with injury, which gave the Lady Cavaliers some match up problems. Tyler took advantage and a 1-0 lead.
Ten minutes into the second half, Peavler, a catalyst for the offense all season, particularly in the postseason, was injured, and Tyler netted their second goal and third goals in a three-minute span midway in the period, and took control of the match.
“It definitely was an advantage to be playing on their home field, but the crowd was great and very respectable,” said Schwab. “It was a great atmosphere and something I could get used to. Knowing you are the number two team in the country is very special. I think this paves the way for our program.”
Schwab also expressed how proud he was of his team, not only for their play on the field, but how the presented themselves during the week.
“We did not have a single yellow card in the tournament, we played hard from beginning to end, we dressed up for the banquet. We really showed everyone there how we do things at JCCC and what we are about,” Schwab said.
JCCC National Tournament Firsts
First Goal
Chelsey Shepard vs. Polk State, 47:54 of the 2nd period (11-19-09)
First Game Winning Goal
Whitney Peavler vs. Polk State, 50:03 of the 2nd period (11-19-09)
First Assist
Emily McKinney vs. Polk State, 47:54 of the 2nd period (11-19-09)
First Game Winning Assist
Rachel Pride vs. Polk State, 50:03 of the 2nd period (11-19-09)
First Shutout
Kelly Voigts vs. Paradise Valley (11-30-09)