POPLARVILLE – The #7 Northwest Mississippi Community College women's soccer team (16-3, 8-3) earned a bit of revenge against #1 Holmes Community College (16-2, 10-1) on Friday night, downing the Bulldogs 2-0 to pick up their fourth consecutive Region 23 Championship and punching a ticket to the NJCAA Division II National Championship in Huntsville, Alabama, in the process.
It's insane to think we've come here five times, and we got beat in penalties in one of them and won four of them," Head Coach James Beattie said. "It's the hard work that we do day in and day out, and I really think that it's paid off. I love the program, I love Dr. Heindl, I love the administration, I love our athletic director. It makes it easy when there are good people around you."
The win came over a team with national title aspirations as well, and Beattie said it means more when the competition is as tough as Region 23 brings year in and year out.
"(Holmes) is super talented," Head Coach James Beattie said of Holmes. "They are going to be talented next year and the following year. We are in a really hard district, and we should have a lot of teams that represent, because this is a gauntlet. We've been lucky enough to do it, but I think the other teams deserve a crack at nationals because they are all super talented as well."
For the players, there was a feeling of payback after the Bulldogs had taken them down in Senatobia when Northwest was the number one team in the country at that time.
"It means a ton. It's really a good feeling, and to do it with the people that I work with day and night and know they are trying just as hard, I love it," Sophomore Darby Woolever said.
"Coach always says it is hard to beat a team twice, and for us to come down here for the win, it definitely feels good," freshman Yazzlyn Alex said, adding that this team has made it easy for her to come in and contribute right away. "It's been amazing. Northwest has treated me so well, and the girls on the team have treated me like a little sister, and I think that made me come out of my comfort zone and want to push even harder."
The game opened with the Bulldogs controlling the tempo, but it all flipped on its head when Olivia Miller jumped a pass from the back line to the Holmes goalie, leading to a one-on-one and the opening score in the 23rd minute to put the pressure on the top seed.
It was her third goal in the last two games, with all three as unassisted, opportunistic chances.
"Olivia got hot at the right time," Beattie said. "You don't win championships in September, you win championships in November, and while I wish she could be hot at both times, but that's just not soccer, and if I had to choose one time, I'd rather it was November."
The rest of the half settled down, but it wasn't without its moments that caused tension. The Bulldogs consistently were peppering the Rangers' goal, forcing Woolever to make eight saves in the opening half on the 13 shots that Holmes took.
Coming out of the half, the Bulldogs were immediately the aggressors, picking up good looks on goal twice in the opening 10 minutes, including a free kick from 20 yards out that was saved by a diving Woolever to keep the lead intact at 1-0.
"I knew the foul was unlucky, and there was no reason to complain about the call, so I set up my wall to force her to the right, and when she did, I was ready in that moment to make the dive," Woolever said.
Beattie said he knew a quality program like Holmes was going to come out swinging in the second half.
"I said it before, they are a really well-coached team, I've got a lot of respect for their coach, and they have a talented roster. We knew it was going to be tough, and it was. We had to suffer at moments, but when two big moments came up, we took the opportunity, and that's all we can do," Beattie said.
As the storm began to subside, the Rangers started to establish themselves back in control, building several opportunities on the way to adding to their lead in the 73rd minute when a breakaway was started by Maggie Pace and the sophomore found Yazzlin Alex on a cross to the top of the 18-yard box, doubling the lead with a strike just over the goalie's head.
"Once I got a touch in, I knew I had to let it go and take every chance that we get," Alex said. "I think it was all about coming towards the ball and fighting with aggression."
The Rangers would settle in on defense, icing the game away and celebrating their fourth Region 23 Championship and Gulf South District Championship in a row in their fifth straight trip to the title game.
Woolever was the key to the game, making 12 saves, giving her 19 in the last two matches, and Beattie said she has always been a player who has been team-first and deserved what came to her.
"She just took it and ran with it, and I'm so proud of her. The soccer thing comes and goes, but when we get off the van or bus, she's always helping. We came down here earlier, and even though she didn't play a minute, she was helping get stuff two or three times, and that's just the character she is. Good things happen to good people."
Woolever said it meant a lot to see the time and effort she has put in come through, but she was always ready for the call.
"I've been working hard, and sometimes you don't get the result you want, but as long as you work hard, you'll get it one day, and I finally got an opportunity, and I took it. That's all you can do. Work hard, and that's what you get," Woolever said.
With the win, Northwest can officially book their trip to Huntsville, Alabama, for the National tournament from November 15th through the 21st, giving them a chance to be the first team to win three consecutive national championships at the Division II level.
"It's always going to be tough," Beattie said. "It's just getting back to the dance; it's just trying to continue it. Obviously, we've got a week to kind of recover and travel and be set, and then we go from there."
For the players, it's one more week of competing together that they are all looking forward to.
"I'm looking forward to spending more time with the girls and my sophomores, and I want to get a ring. We are just keeping on pushing forward and making this program better," Alex said.
Keep up with news and updates for the Ranger soccer team as they prepare for the trip to nationals by visiting nwccrangers.com or by following along with Northwest social media accounts.
