November 16, 2018

It was another great year for the Delta College women’s soccer team, as they improved on last season’s third place finish in the national tournament by placing second at this year’s NJCAA Division III National Soccer Tournament in Rockford, Illinois.

“Making it to nationals for the second straight year is amazing,” said co-head coach Damon Amey. “This year we had a mission to make it to the championship game and win. We did not quite make our goal, but number two in the country is something to hold our head up high about.”

The Pioneers played Richland College (18-2-2) from Texas in the championship game, after defeating Howard Community College and Union County College in the tournament.

“We played an outstanding Richland team, and they certainly earned their win. We played an outstanding game, and that was reflected in a very competitive 1-0 loss,” said co-head coach Paul Stenglein.

The women’s soccer team finished the season with an impressive (16-2-0) record. After acquiring their first loss in the beginning of the season against Jackson College their next loss wouldn’t come until that championship game against Richland. That 16-game winning streak is a Delta College record.

This year’s team was a speedy, athletically talented and tight-knit group that carried a deep and strong family bond through the entirety of the season, empowering their desire to win and take on anything that was thrown their way.

“This team reaffirms that if you truly care about those around you, you will do anything in battle for them and you will have so much fun doing it,” said Amey.

Three players from Delta’s team, sophomore goalkeeper Kalyn Breckenridge, sophomore defender/midfielder Kyla Breckenridge and sophomore midfielder Hope Emington, made the all-tourney team.

Looking to the Future

Delta has already begun putting together next year’s team and hopes to continue to build upon their successes.

“We will have a bunch of experience returning next season and we have a very good recruiting class coming in,” said Amey.

“What we worked to create these past years will be the foundation of our future teams,” says Stenglein. “Being the runner-up at the national tournament makes us hungry for another great run next fall and, hopefully, the chance to hoist a championship trophy.”

Delta’s Team

Hannah Emington – #2, midfield, freshman
Casey Allessie – #3, forward, sophmore
Elena Lippert – #4, midfield, sophmore
Kaitlyn Larrea – #5, forward, freshman
Katelyn Goodrich – #6, defense, freshman
Halie Kish – #7, midfield/defense, sophmore
Hope Emington – #8, midfield, sophmore
Lindsey Musser – #9, defense/midfield, sophmore
Haleigh Amthor – #10, midfield, freshman
Audrey Niederstadt – #11, midfield, sophmore
Ariana Irish – #12, defense, freshman
Hannah Bauer – #13, midfield, sophmore
Kaitlyn Viaene – #14, defense/Midfield, sophmore
Skylar Eckert – #15, forward, sophmore
Kaylee Meissner – #16, midfield, freshman
McKenna Fluder – #18, midfield, freshman
Hunter Kukla – #19, forward, freshman
Kyla Breckenridge – #20, defense/Midfield, sophmore
Zoee Robbins – #21, defense, freshman
Jessie McInnis – #23, defense, sophmore
Kalyn Breckenridge – #24, goalkeeper, sophmore
Amber Kolean – #25, goalkeeper, freshman