(Charlotte, NC) - Waubonsee Community College's women's soccer team is ranked seventh nationally in the NJCAA's 2022 Division II Pre-Season poll. Coach Brad Schlemmer's squad received 114 points in the voting conducted among Regional Directors from across the country. The Chiefs return several key players from last year's squad which finished 17-2-1 overall and was ranked fourth nationally in the final regular season poll. Waubonsee has captured the last two Region IV titles, earning a berth in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament. The Chiefs wrapped up last season with a 1-0 victory over the previous defending National Champion Phoenix (AZ) College in their final pool play match at the 12-team tournament in Wichita, Kansas.
Illinois junior colleges are well represented in the poll of the nation's top-20 teams. Heartland Community College from Champaign, the defending National Champion, received 160 points and is ranked number one. South Suburban College in South Holland, whom the Chiefs' edged out in last year's Region IV title match, is tabbed eighth in the poll with 106 points. Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville is ranked ninth, while fellow Region IV member Triton College from River Grove is 19th in the rankings.
Schlemmer's 2022 team is led by returning All-American defender Amy Flores, who anchored a unit that recorded 13 shutouts last year. The Aurora Central Catholic High School product was named the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) Player of the Year in helping Waubonsee capture the ISCC title. An All-Region First Team performer, Flores was instrumental in the Chiefs holding down some of the top offensive players in the country, as Waubonsee competed against 15 of the nation's top-50 scorers last season.
In addition, the Chiefs return All-ISCC First Team midfielder Sarai Munoz. The Aurora West High School alumnus was credited with a dozen assists and scored nine goals, including three game-winning scores. Tsion White, an All-ISCC Honorable Mention selection also returns. The fellow midfielder from Aurora West registered six goals and five assists last season.
Waubonsee's defense will be bolstered by the return of 2020 ISCC Goalkeeper of the Year Daisy Quinonez. The Aurora East High School product finished in the top-20 in wins (9), save percentage (.839) and goals-against-average (1.15) among all Division II keepers two seasons ago.
Highly touted newcomers include Ashleigh Wackerlin from Hinckley-Big Rock High School, who registered 17 goals her senior year on the way to being named Second Team All-State. Madison Stevens, tallied 15 goals including seven game-winners last season as a senior at St. Charles North High School.