NIACC women move to regional semifinals
MASON CITY - For the second straight season, the third-seeded NIACC women's soccer team has advanced to the NJCAA Region XI Division II semifinals with a 8-0 victory over sixth-seed Scott CC.
Last season, it took a penalty kick from Valerie Nelson after two overtimes with no goals being scored to lift the Trojans to the opening-round tournament win.
On Sunday, no overtimes or late penalty kicks were needed by the third-seeded Trojans, who cruised to an 8-0 victory.
Sophomore Jette Busche recorded her first career hat trick and an assist to power the Trojans' offense.
The Trojans also received goals from Autumn Van Horn, Amalia Briseno, Katyrra Peck, Zoey Thompson and Brianna Marchand.
The eight-goal victory is the largest in school history for the NIACC women. The previous largest margin of victory for the Trojans was six goals three times (in 2021, 2003 and 2002).
NIACC moved its overall record to 7-7-2, which is tied for the most wins in a single season in school history. In the 2021 spring season, the Trojans compiled a record of 7-8.
Sunday's win was also the 10th career win for second-year coach Gannon Harsma, who has a career mark of 10-18-3. Harsma is now tied with Leo Driscoll, who was 10-16-1 in 2017-18.
NIACC now plays Hawkeye CC in the regional semifinals at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Waterloo. The second-seed RedTails blanked seventh-seed Marshalltown CC, 8-0, in their regional opener on Sunday.
NIACC and Hawkeye CC tied 2-2 in its match in Waterloo this season and the RedTails won 4-1 in the Mason City matchup.
