JOLIET, ILL. - A record-setting season of firsts continued Tuesday when the Madison College women's soccer team defeated Joliet Junior College by a 1-0 final to win the 2017 NJCAA Region IV Division III Championship at Joliet Memorial Stadium. Making their title game debut in just their fourth year as a program, the second-seeded WolfPack took advantage of an early goal to grab momentum and hold off the top-seeded Wolves after the two teams split their regular season series and the North Central Community College Conference crown. Madison College advances to the NJCAA District D Tournament Championship, where they will square off with Anoka-Ramsey.

The match's first scoring opportunity actually came just 35-seconds in when #9-ranked Joliet Junior College (19-3) fired a shot on goal that was saved by WolfPack goalkeeper Brandie Gospodarek. Barely four minutes old, the match turned when Madison College made its first push deep into the Wolves end. Freshman Abby Meehan set up fellow first year Erin True with a terrific lead feed, and True took advantage with a kick to the back of the net. The former Monona Grove HS athlete and UW-Eau Claire transfer tallied her fifth goal of the season and second against JJC. The assist from Meehan was also the fifth of the year for the Evansville, Wisconsin, native.

With plenty of match remaining, both teams continued to attack the offensive zones, however, the opposing defenses were ready for the challenge. Madison College fought off ten more total shots by Joliet, while the Wolves were tested nine more times by shots from the 'Pack. Gospodarek finished with six saves to post her second shutout of the postseason and the eighth clean sheet of the year. The native of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, has allowed just nine goals all season and boasts a .886 save percentage through nearly 1,500 minute of game action. Though even at six shots on goal, Madison College did own a 5-2 edge in corner kick opportunities. All-time scoring leader Britt Schumann attempted two shots on goal, fellow freshman Esther Noriega added two of her own, and Meehan was credited with another. 

The WolfPack now own an 8-2 all-time lead over Joliet, including a 2-0 mark record in postseason meetings.

By scoring the match's only goal, True was named the Region IV Tournament's Most Valuable Player. After leading his team to their first-ever appearance in the title match, and the subsequent victory, head coach Matt Schwartz was named Region IV Coach of the Year (see interview above).




Up Next:

Madison College (14-1-2) will play Saturday, October 28 in the NJCAA District D Tournament Championship against Anoka-Ramsey Community College (9-2). The Rams defeated Rochester, 12-1, to claim the Region XIII title and will square off with the WolfPack for the first time. Kickoff is at 4:00 p.m. at UNW Stadium in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

The winner advances to the NJCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship in Dryden, New York

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