Kellogg CC women's soccer team makes history with regional championship
BATTLE CREEK - The Kellogg Community College women's soccer team made history recently, claiming the first regional championship title ever in the sport for the school.
KCC went into the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 12 Division II Tournament in Marysville ranked No. 18 in the nation, ultimately defeating St. Clair County Community College in a shootout Saturday in the semifinals and upsetting No. 8-ranked Schoolcraft College in an overtime win in the regional final.
“To start out with 13 new players and not only set every relevant statistical program record, but achieve a national ranking and win the region tournament on top of it all, it speaks to the character and commitment of our players, staff and administration,” KCC soccer coach Levi Butcher said. “Winning in a shootout in the semis ....Then coming into the final to face the No. 8 team in the country, who had beaten us twice previously, and beat them on a golden goal in the first period of extra time was just the storybook ending.”
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The semifinal ended regulation in a 2-2 tie, sending the game into overtime. The seven-round shootout was ended on a goal by freshman forward Kayla Vogel, from Pennfield. The victory marked the women’s soccer program’s first regional playoff win in program history.
The regional final ended regulation in a 0-0 tie, with the championship ultimately decided on a goal by Allison Dietzel.
Four KCC players were named to the NJCAA Region 12 Division II All-Tournament Team, including Dietzel, freshman goalkeeper Airanna Griecci, freshman midfielder/forward Lucy Lampart and Aubrey Phenicie.
Griecci, who had six key saves per game over the weekend, was named Tournament MVP, and 2023 Region 12 Division II Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year honors went to Butcher.
It was a season of firsts for the women’s soccer team, which also set records for most wins and goals in a season. The season also marked the first time in program history the team has been nationally ranked and was the first time the team has ever gone to regionals in two consecutive years.
The Bruins play next as part of the NJCAA Division II Women’s Soccer District Championship Tournament Nov. 4 against District 24 winner Southwestern Illinois College. The winner of that game will advance to the eight-team NJCAA Division II Soccer Championship in Tuscon.
Cross Country
Kellogg Community College’s men’s and women’s cross-country teams both placed second in their respective regional championship races last week, with two Bruin runners earning spots on the All-Region Team.
Women’s freshman Brenna Withers, from Harper Creek, finished second in the National Junior Athletic Association Region 12 Division III women’s race among DIII runners. She ran a personal best 22:02 for the 5K run, which is the fifth-fastest time for a women’s runner in KCC history.
Men’s freshman Zachary Piercy, from Lakeview, finished third among DIII runners in the men’s race, running a season PR of 28:38 for the 8K.
Both Withers and Piercy were named to the NJCAA Division III All-Region 12 Team.
The men’s team and two women’s runners have qualified for the NJCAA National Championships and will compete in the race on Nov. 11 in Huntsville, Alabama.
Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter: @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Kellogg CC women's soccer team makes history with regional title
