TUCSON, Ariz. – Entering their first season competing in NJCAA Division II, the Johnson County Community College women's soccer team had a goal of contending for a national championship. They fell one victory shy, falling 3-0 to No. 3 seed Jones College to finish runner-up at the NJCAA D-II National Championship in Tucson, Ariz.
To get to the championship match, Johnson County defeated the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, but Jones offensive pressure and strong defense proved too much for the Lady Cavaliers. Jones fired seven shots on goal, while JCCC came up empty. JCCC finished 18-4-2 on the season. Jones posted a 17-1-1 mark.
Jones midfielder Gemma Whitchurch gave her team an early 1-0 lead, finding the back of the net just 3-mintues, 46-seconds into the match. Nineteen minutes later Eline Ottah made it 2-0 for the Bobcats. Jones put the match away with their third score by Hillary Jean in the 64th minute.
It was a remarkable run to the title match for the Lady Cavaliers. They opened pool play with a 4-0 win over Rock Valley College followed by a 2-1 win over No.2 seed Northwest Mississippi Community College which advanced JCCC to the national semifinals where they knocked of Phoenix College, the top seed of the tournament, 1-0.
Sophomore midfielder Sydney Hammett and freshman forward Karsen Koehler were named to the all-tournament team. Hammett netted the game winning goal over Phoenix that send JCCC to the national championship match. Kohler scored the second the goal in the 4-0 win over Rock Valley.
Freshman goalkeeper Maddox Fergus started all four matches, finishing 3-1-0 with 14 saves and two shutouts.