Defending Region XI champs set to open season tomorrow

NORFOLK, Neb. – The reigning Region XI champions are back for more when they open the season tomorrow at 1 p.m. against Western Nebraska Community College at Veterans Memorial Field in Norfolk.

The Northeast Community College women's soccer team is coming off the best season it has had in program history. The Hawks marched their way past Hawkeye Community College to claim the Region XI championship crown, while making their first-ever trip to the NJCAA DII Women's Soccer National Tournament in Evans, Ga.

Coach Chad Miller was ultimately named the ICCAC Women's Soccer Coach of the Year and Naomi Pedroza (Hastings, Neb.) was named All-American, tournament MVP, offensive MVP, First Team All-Region, All-Tournament team and ICCAC Player of the Year. Jessica Clinton (Brighton, Colo.) earned All-American status along with First Team All-Region, defensive MVP and All-Tournament team honors. Goalie Mackenzie Byrnes (Brighton, Colo.) was named the tournament top goalie, First Team All-Region and All-American. Clinton and Pedroza both return to anchor a talented and experienced Northeast women's soccer squad.

"As exciting as it was, and as proud of I am of the girls, I feel the best thing to do is leave it and move forward," head women's soccer coach Chad Miller said. "It is hard not to talk about it with this group, but this is a new group and they want to write their own story."

The Hawks will have just the chance to do that as they usher in an extremely talented freshmen class.

"The freshmen are an exciting group," Miller added. "I expect them to contribute heavily to this team in every line and push our sophomores."

Romeni Gurmendi (Boulder, Colo.), Kyler Bowman (Topeka, Kan.), Pyper Lochead (Gold Coast, Queensland), Anna Gottemeier (Tangermunde, Germany), Mackenzee Stokes (Ningi, Queensland) and Kailey Lincoln (Gold Coast, Queensland) will all push for immediate playing time.

Backed by an experienced sophomore group, including sophomore sisters Naomi Pedroza and Sara Pedroza (Hastings, Neb.), the Hawks hope to get started off on the right foot.

"I expect the sophomores to lead the way," Miller said. "They have had good success and know what it takes to get there. They need to lead the way to do it all again."

Brianna Medias (Centennial, Colo.), Kelsey Tabbert (Elkhorn, Neb.), Meghan Colton (Norfolk, Neb.), Frida Aguilar-Ximello (Boulder, Colo.), Hannah Cherven (Brighton, Colo.), Riley Gilbert (Mead, Colo.) and Clinton will be heavily relied on to help the Hawks reach their new goals in 2021.

"Our goal is to win our region," Miller said. "I feel that is a goal we will have every year. But now that we have had the experience of going to the national tournament, I believe it has to be making it out of pool play at the national tournament. When we qualified in the spring, it had a feeling of 'goal accomplished.' It was almost like we forgot we had more games to play. We have to think bigger to get all the way to the end and be champions."

A key factor in helping the Hawks reach the national tournament in Wichita, Kan., will be the chemistry of the team and how they plan to build off of a successful season.

"I feel our chemistry is pretty good so far," Miller added. "The girls are really competing with each other in practice and they are pushing each other to be better. I have been blessed with some amazing talent these past few years. If we can keep finding the right players, I feel the program will take care of itself. The players have really taken ownership."

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