Eyes on the prize

After a win in the district finals, women’s soccer heads to nationals

By Blake Metiva

The Delta women’s soccer team is Midwest Division champion once again. The Pioneers defeated the Joliet Junior College Wolves on Nov. 1 in an 11-2 dismantling. The women faced a familiar opponent, the Owens Express, in the final the following day. Delta and Owens had already met twice this season, with Delta taking victories in both matches. In the district final, Delta prevailed once again.

The match was a tense affair for the first 40 minutes, but that changed just prior to halftime. A Delta defender launched a beautiful clearance up the field that found the feet of Peyton Pratt, who immediately passed it to leading scorer Isabella Workman. Workman took the ball, dribbled past an Owens defender, and slotted it into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 Pioneers.

The second half remained close until Delta grew its lead in the 58th minute. After an Owens goal kick bounced around midfield, Pratt found herself in prime position to make a run. She received the ball out wide, with only one Owens defender to beat. She made a cut toward the center of the field and beat the defender. In a last-ditch attempt to prevent Delta from scoring, the defender tripped Pratt, resulting in a penalty kick.

Staring down the keeper with everyone else behind her, Pratt stepped up to take the shot. The whistle blew, and she slotted the ball home. Delta was up 2-0 with one hand on the district title.

Fifteen minutes later, Delta extended its lead once again. On a corner kick, Kendall Jackson found herself alone in the middle of the box, unmarked by Owens defenders. Anna Sabo whipped a cross in that found Jackson, who stuck her foot out and put it in the back of the net.

Shortly after, Delta scored its final goal of the match and put a second hand on the title in the 82nd minute. Jackson scored her second goal of the match. Abigail Hendy sent in a free kick that bounced around the box, popped out to Jackson, who dribbled the ball and put it past the diving Owens keeper to make it 4-0 and solidify Delta’s title.

Following the match, Mikalah Lewis reflected on the season the team has had.

“The secret to our season is our culture,” Lewis said. “Everyone is always uplifting each other.” 

Lewis also talked about how it feels being a district champion.

“(It feels) really good,” Lewis said. “We’ve worked really hard this season, but we always work toward the next game and we’re working for the National Tournament now.”

The Pioneers are looking to win their second national title in program history but face tough competition at the National Tournament taking place at Genesee Community College in Batavia, N.Y. The tournament takes place from Nov. 12-17 and can be watched on the NJCAA website.