Six members of Waubonsee Community College's Women's Soccer team were recognized for their outstanding 2018 season by the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) and the NJCAA Region IV Soccer Committees. Heading up the Chiefs' contingent of honorees were forward Isabel Cerda and midfielder Meghan Menzel, who were named to both the All-ISCC First Team and All-Region First Team. Defender Jenny Nunez and midfielder Molly Schiltz were both tabbed to the All-ISCC Second Team and All-Region Second Team. In addition, midfielders Taylor Zitkus and Marlene Sanchez were both chosen Honorable Mention All-ISCC for a Waubonsee squad that won 17 games overall and reached the Region IV title match for the tenth time in the last eleven years.
Cerda, a freshman from Plainfield South High School, scored 32 goals and registered eight assists this fall. Her 32 goals and 72 total points are both fourth all-time in a season in Waubonsee women's soccer history, and put her seventh in both categories nationally among NJCAA Division I players. Cerda also booted five game-winning goals and established a school-record with six 'hat tricks' during the season to eclipse to mark of five set by Maxzine Rossler in 2010 and 2011, and Kayley Garland last season.
A two-sport athlete, Menzel was second on the team with 19 goals and nine assists from her midfield position. The graduate of Hinckley-Big Rock High School netted six game-winning goals. Menzel finished her Waubonsee soccer career with 32 goals and 15 assists, totaling 79 points to put her sixth all-time in the Chiefs' record book. She also registered a goal or an assist in 27 matches the last two years, tied for fourth most in Waubonsee history. The 5'8 sophomore is a member of Waubonsee's basketball team as well.
Nunez a freshman from Yorkville High School, was a key cog in a Chiefs' defense that recorded nine shutouts during the season and held opponents to only 104 shots on goal (SOG) in 21 matches, the second fewest SOG in school history.
Schiltz, an Oswego East High School alumnus, tallied nine goals and had six assists as a midfielder while helping the Chiefs get off 300 more shots on goal (404) than their opponents.
Another midfielder, Zitkus booked five goals and had two assists when she wasn't dropping back to aide the Chiefs' defense. The versatile Kaneland High School product was instrumental in helping Waubonsee out score its' opponents 96-32 for the season.
Sanchez was third on the team with 14 goals and 14 assists, the fifth most assists recorded in a season in the program's record book. The Aurora West High School graduate finished third on the team with 42 points and also contributed a pair of game-winning goals.
Coach Brad Schlemmer's Chiefs finished second in the ISCC with a 5-1 mark and ended the season with a 17-3-1 overall record, with two of their three losses coming to unbeaten Moraine Valley Community College (19-0-1). The Chiefs' 17 wins ties the 2011 team for second most in a season in program history, with only the 2010 team winning more matches with 18 that season. For Waubonsee it is the program's sixth Region IV runner-up finish in the last 11 years to go along with four Region Championships during that span. Schlemmer, after seven years in charge, ended the season with 86 career coaching victories at Waubonsee, tying him with Leslie (Ferguson) Raney (2004-2011) for the most in program history.
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