(Evans, GA) –Needing a win to avoid elimination from the 2021 NJCAA Division II National Tournament, Waubonsee Community College's women's soccer team faced a tall order on Sunday afternoon. The Chiefs needed a victory against top-seeded, top-ranked and undefeated Phoenix (AZ) College to keep their chances alive of advancing out of the tournament's pool play and into the national semi-finals. Coach Brad Schlemmer's crew came within half a minute of doing just that before the Bears tied it and went on to win in sudden-death double overtime 3-2.
It was clear from the beginning that the weather was likely going to play a part again in the outcome at Blanchard Woods Park northwest of Augusta, Georgia. At kickoff the temperature was in the mid 80's with nearly 70 percent humidity, making it feel as if it was in the low 90's. After playing a 110-minute, double-overtime match in similar conditions the day before against Muskegon (MI) Community College, the eighth-seeded Chiefs' stamina and endurance was tested throughout.
In the opening 15 minutes of play each team had opportunities to score with Phoenix (12-0) out shooting the Chiefs 4-3. Each time though Chiefs' keeper Isabelle Harkleroad and Bears' goalie Jennifer Alvillar were up to the task. However, the Chiefs (10-2-2) were able to get on the scoreboard first as a Phoenix foul gave Waubonsee a penalty kick in the 18th minute. Olivia McPherson cashed in as she blasted a shot past Alvillar for her 25th goal of the season.
The Bears were denied four times by Harkleroad and the Chiefs' defense over the next 12 minutes of action before finally pulling even in the 31st minute. Phoenix's Zalma Torres found the back of the net off of an assist from Daizy Arredondo to tie the game. The Bears continued to press the attack from there, out shooting the Chiefs 4-1 over the final minutes of the first half. Harkleroad was credited with six saves in the first half helping ensure that the teams went to halftime deadlocked at one all.
Waubonsee took the lead in the 53rd minute when Kiara McPherson teamed up with her twin sister Olivia. Just like they have done several times this season, Kiara set up Olivia for a score to make it 2-1 Chiefs. The second goal of the day for Olivia gave her 26 on the season, tying her for the national lead in goals scored among all NJCAA Division II players in the country. The assist for Kiara also increased her season total to nine tying her for the team lead in assists with Yari Aguado and Ashley Bailey.
Phoenix continued to pressure the Chiefs out shooting them 10-1 over the next 30 minutes of action. Waubonsee's defensive crew of Bailey, Rachel Polignone, Bailey Prichard and Lindsay Ferris rose to the occasion several times with Harkleroad making three excellent stops to keep the Chiefs in front. The exhausted Chiefs tried to hang on in the final minutes, but a handball violation in the box with just 0:30 remaining in the match gave Phoenix a penalty kick. The Bears' Kiana Miyazato then drilled a shot into the left corner of the net just out of the reach of a diving Harkleroad to send the match into overtime.
Two minutes into the first 10-minute extra period the Bears had a prime scoring opportunity with a close-in header off of a corner kick. However, Kiara McPherson was able to casually boot the ball away just before it crossed the goal line. After 100 minutes of action the match remained tied at 2-all heading into the second overtime, but it didn't stay that way long. Just a minute and a half into the second extra session the Bears' Anacel Valenzuela-Acosta drilled a phenomenal shot from 16 yards out on the right side of the field and into the upper left corner of the net to win the game, denying the Chiefs of the potential upset and 200th win in the program's history.
For the match the Bears out shot the Chiefs 31-9 overall, with 14 shots on goal compared to eight for Waubonsee. The Bears benefited from a 10-0 advantage in corner kicks keeping the Chiefs' defense on alert all day. Harkleroad was credited with 11 saves while Alvillar tallied six saves for Phoenix. The Bears now advance out of Pool A and into the semi-finals set to be played on Tuesday, June 8 where they will face sixth-seeded Jones County (MS) Community College (14-2) which won the Pool C bracket. The other semi-final match pits the Pool B winner second-seeded Holmes (MS) Community College (14-0-1) against the Pool D victor fourth-seeded Heartland (IL) Community College (11-0). The two winners will meet in the National Championship match scheduled for Wednesday, June 9 at 7:30 p.m. (EST).
