Delta College wins 7-0 in Regional Championship

By Jacob Teets

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Delta Pioneers beat the Owens Community College Express 7-0 on Oct. 25 to win their ninth straight regional championship. They’ve defeated the Express in back-to-back years in the regional title game. They now move on to the NJCAA Division III Midwest District Tournament. 

Delta was on fire this past Saturday, scoring five of their seven goals in the first half of the game. The Express defense couldn’t stop the overpowering offense that the Pioneers have continued to play each time they’ve stepped on the field. Sophomore midfielder Brooke Swartz proved that by scoring a goal during the first minute of the game, providing the Pioneers with an early advantage.

Sophomore forward Isabella Workman played a great game, scoring once in the first half and again in the second half. The two goals brought her total goals up to 11 on the season. 

Part of what made this team great Saturday was how they carried the momentum from goal to goal. After Workman scored her first goal it only took three minutes for Delta to score another and then about nine minutes for their fourth. They didn’t stop applying pressure after goals; they kept going as if the score were tied and were fighting for their first goal of the game. 

With 27:56 left in the first half, the Pioneers made their way up the field, making multiple passes near the goal before finding sophomore midfielder Alexa Verhelst for a spectacular goal outside of the box to put Delta up 3-0 in the first half.

Once again, the Pioneers offense had control of the ball for most of the game. There were only a few times when the Express were making their way up the field before being halted by Delta’s dangerous defenders. The communication by the players out on the field was how they were able to keep the majority of control. There were very few times when the Pioneers weren’t communicating where the ball was going or who was open on the opposing team. 

The pioneers will play in the NJCAA Division III Midwest District Tournament on Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1. Friday’s game will be played at 8:30 p.m. against Anoka-Ramsey Community College and if they win that game they will play at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

For more photos from the game check out: https://emmablakleyphotography.smugmug.com/Delta-College/Soccer/Regional-Championship-1025