2023 National Tournament Recap | Women's Soccer
Division I:
WICHITA, Kan. - Iowa Western repeated as the NJCAA Division I Women's Soccer National Champions last week after another outstanding tournament run.
The Reivers maintained a No. 1 ranking in the country for the entirety of the 2023 season. Last year, IWCC finished 19-3-1 and carried an 18-game winning streak into this season. The Reivers won all 18 games they played this season on their way to a second-straight national title, putting their streak at 36 in a row.
Iowa Western's tournament started with two wins over No. 12 Laramie County (Colo.), 6-0 and Hill (Texas), 3-0. Forward Oruha Hayashi led the team in scoring with four goals and two assists in the two games. Lou Broussault added a pair of goals as well against Laramie County, while Marie Quentel had three assists in pool play.
The Reivers escaped Cowley (Kan.) in the semifinal match, 1-0. Nicole Navarro Aguilar scored the game winning goal, albeit in the sixth minute of the game. Bella Washington came up with five saves to keep the Tigers out of the net and off the board.
In the National Championship, Iowa Western met No. 4 Eastern Florida State. The two teams played through the first 90 minutes in scoreless, yet nail biting soccer. The Reivers outshot the Titans 8-2 over the course of the game, which ultimately led to their advantage.
In the second minute of overtime, Navarro Aguilar put home the game-winning, national championship deciding goal to give the Reivers a 1-0 victory. She was named Tournament MVP after picking up the two biggest goals in the tournament.
Hayashi was named Offensive Player of the Tournament, Washington Goalkeeper of the Tournament and coach Adam Sanchez was named the Coach of the Tournament.
Iowa Western has now won three National Titles in school history -- 2023, 2022 and 2013.
Iowa Western:
Pool 1 - (1) Iowa Western def. (12) Laramie County, 6-0 - Box Score
Pool 2 - (1) Iowa Western def. (8) Hill, 3-0 - Box Score
Semifinal - (1) Iowa Western def. (11) Cowley, 1-0 - Box Score
Championship - (1) Iowa Western def. Eastern Florida State - Box Score
Division II:
TUCSON, Ariz. - Northeast won the Region 11 Championship again this season and after a District Championship -- reached the NJCAA National Tournament for the fourth season in a row.
Northeast started the tournament strong with a 2-1 win over ninth seeded Schoolcraft (Mich.) getting their second win over the Ocelots this year. Talia Sanders and Marleigh Leister were the goal scorers. The two goals tied a team record in a national tournament game they set back in Spring 2021 when they beat Howard (Md.) 2-1.
However, advancing out of the pool came down to the result against Jones (Miss.). And for Northeast, the Hawks came up short, falling 2-0. Despite their success reaching the tournament, NECC has yet to advance out of pool play in their four tournaments.
Northeast is now 2-6 at the National Tournament in team history. Regardless, they have a stranglehold on the Region 11 standings, and will likely be in the hunt for another berth and another shot for a national tournament run in 2024.
Northeast:
Pool 1 - (4) Northeast def. (9) Schoolcraft, 2-1 - Box Score
Pool 2 - (5) Jones def. (4) Northeast, 2-0 - Box Score