WOODALL SHINES AGAIN AS NO. 5 HAWKS WIN NORTH PLAINS DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP FOR FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW

NORFOLK, Neb. – The No. 5 Northeast Community College women's soccer team hosted the North Plains District Championship on their home field at Norfolk Veterans Memorial Field in Norfolk Friday against No. 7 Johnson County Community College. The Hawks captured a 2-1 victory to secure an automatic bid to the 2023 NJCAA DII Women's Soccer Championship at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona.

Northeast (19-1-1, 7-0-1 ICCAC) fell behind 1-0 early as they have during their last three playoff contests but didn't let the visiting Cavaliers enjoy the lead too long as Aidyn Woodall (Castle Rock, Colo.) tied the matchup at 1-1 with an assist from Madisen Clegg (Saint George, Utah). Woodall punched in another score from Anna Schloeglmann (Scharding, Austria) with less than a minute remaining in the half to give the Hawks a lead right before the halftime break. The Northeast defense held strong through in the final 45 minutes in the second half to secure their second trophy in the last week.

Woodall has been on a tear during the postseason as she had the game-winning goal in the Hawks' Region 11 Tournament Semifinals overtime match against Iowa Lakes Community College, the game-winning goal in Northeast's Region 11 Tournament Championship overtime match against No. 11 Iowa Central Community College and scored both of the Hawks' goals in the North Plains District Championship against No. 7 Johnson County Community College.

Northeast will now wait to hear what seed they will be placed in the national tournament on Tuesday during the selection show before competing in the 2023 NJCAA DII Women's Soccer Championship beginning either Sunday, November 12 or Monday, November 13.

STAT SHEET:

Goals: Aidyn Woodall (Castle Rock, Colo.) (2)

Assists: Madisen Clegg (Saint George, Utah), Anna Schloeglmann (Scharding, Austria)

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head Women's Soccer Coach Chad Miller on his team overcoming another deficit to secure the North Plains Championship:

"When I looked at the clock when we were down, I knew there was a lot of time left," Miller said. "I wasn't worried, because we have come from behind before. I think the girls had the same mentality. They stay composed and they don't worry. They honestly believe that they are going to come back and tie it up. They do it every single time. I didn't really say anything. I just knew there was a lot of time left and we could get it back."

Miller on where he hopes his team will stack up on the biggest stage:

"I'd like to think that we are more ready than we ever have been to play high-level competition," Miller said. "We have been in some tight games. Our last few games have just been nailbiters. The girls have stayed composed throughout. I think that is a great thing going into the national tournament. I would never say, 'Hey, I want us to win these games in OT or in the last minute,' but they have been doing it. That's a credit to them. We have to be more ready than we ever have been."

Miller on what it means to return to the national tournament for the fourth-straight season:

"It's great because we have a different group of girls every year," Miller said. "Every year I think they deserve it, probably just like every coach. I want them to go there and get some wins. I want them to get out of pool play. It's all about them. I want them to continue to earn what they have earned throughout this whole season. This group has been amazing and won some amazing games throughout this whole year and I want them to get the same thing down in Arizona."

UP NEXT:

The Hawks will compete in the 2023 NJCAA DII Women's Soccer Championship at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona from November 12-18. Stay tuned to the various Northeast Athletics social media feeds and northeasthawks.com for official matchups and game times.

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