Anne Arundel Captures Region 20 DII Women's Soccer Championship
(With contribtions from Hillary Fisher, AACC)
ARNOLD, Md. – The top seed Anne Arundel Community College women's soccer team claimed the 2024 NJCAA Region 20 Division II Women's Soccer Championship with a 3-2 win over third seed College of Southern Maryland Saturday at Siegert Field. The Riverhawks advance to the NJCAA DII East District Championship November 8th at Mercer County Community College.
The Riverhawks (12-2-1) got goals from Makenzie Boyd, Evan Bathras, and Jaylin Sheffield in the game, and led 3-0 until the final 10 minutes of the game when the Hawks (10-5-1) scored twice.
Boyd opened the scoring in the 13th minute, receiving a short corner kick before maneuvering through a pair of CSM defenders and clanging her shot in off the crossbar.
The Riverhawks extended their lead to two on another corner set in the 35th minute. Miga served the ball into the box where McKenzie Gilbert touched it across to Bathras for a one-timer in front of the cage.
AACC wasted little time in the second half as Chloe Underwood sent a loft ball ahead for Sheffield to finish one-on-one with the keeper.
Riverhawks keeper Péla Saunders made a diving stop in the 65th minute, but the Hawks kept up the pressure, seeing Region 20 points leader Sara Allwine find the back of the net twice in the waning minutes.
Allwine first evaded a defender and bounced her cross-net shot in off the post in the 80th minute and followed by controlling a cross from Abigail May and sending it past Saunders in the 89th minute.
Saunders finished with two second-half saves in the game. CSM keeper Kylie Smith made seven stops.
CSM also used second half heroics to defeat #2 CCBC Essex 3-2 in the semi final and advance to the championship game.
CCBC Essex scored the first two goals of the game, striking first in the 19th minute and scoring again to open the second half in the 53rd minute.
CSM would open their scoring in the 60th minute with a goal from Allwine, assisted by Zoi Whitsett. Amber Jones joined the scoring with an unassisted goal in the 65th minute. Just two minutes later Allwine netted the game winner to secure the trip to the title game.
AACC advaned to the championship game with a 4-1 victory over #4 Garrett College. The Riverhawks scored twice in the first half with goals from Miga and Sheffield. Garrett scored just minutes after opening the second half to close the lead to one goal as Victoria Kovazh found the net for the Lakers.
In the 56th and 58th minutes AACC sealed the game with goals from Underwood (assited by Megan Strevig) and Miga (assisted by Tina Tinelli)
The Riverhawks advance to take on the 20th ranked Vikings at 2 p.m. on Friday, November 8, in West Windsor Township, N.J. Mercer County (14-1-2) won the Region 19 DII championship Saturday, defeating Essex County College, 10-0.
Division II Women's Soccer All-Tournament Team
Avery Lane, CCBC Essex
Samantha Grace, CCBC Essex
Victoria Kovazh, Garrett
Kayla Moore, Garrett
Sara Allwine, CSM
Kylie Smith, CSM
Amber Jones, CSM
Tina Tinelli, AACC
Eden Abey, AACC
Emma Miga, AACC
Makenzie Boyd, AACC