Women's Soccer Defeats CSM, 3-2, for Region 20 Title

ARNOLD, Md. – The top seed Anne Arundel Community College women's soccer team claimed the 2024 NJCAA Region 20 Division II Women's Soccer Championship with a 3-2 win over third seed College of Southern Maryland Saturday at Siegert Field. The Riverhawks advance to the NJCAA DII East District Championship November 8^th at Mercer County Community College.

The Riverhawks (12-2-1) got goals from Makenzie Boyd, Evan Bathras, and Jaylin Sheffield in the game, and led 3-0 until the final 10 minutes of the game when the Hawks (10-5-1) scored twice.

Boyd opened the scoring in the 13^th minute, receiving a short corner kick before maneuvering through a pair of CSM defenders and clanging her shot in off the crossbar.

The Riverhawks extended their lead to two on another corner set in the 35^th minute. Miga served the ball into the box where McKenzie Gilbert touched it across to Bathras for a one-timer in front of the cage.

AACC wasted little time in the second half as Chloe Underwood sent a loft ball ahead for Sheffield to finish one-on-one with the keeper.

Riverhawks keeper Péla Saunders made a diving stop in the 65^th minute, but the Hawks kept up the pressure, seeing Region 20 points leader Sara Allwine find the back of the net twice in the waning minutes.

Allwine first evaded a defender and bounced her cross-net shot in off the post in the 80^th minute and followed by controlling a cross from Abigail May and sending it past Saunders in the 89^th minute.

Saunders finished with two second-half saves in the game. CSM keeper Kylie Smith made seven stops.

AACC outshot CSM, 20-13, and held an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks.

The Riverhawks advance to take on the 20^th ranked Vikings at 2 p.m. on Friday, November 8, in West Windsor Township, N.J. Mercer County (14-1-2) won the Region 19 DII championship Saturday, defeating Essex County College, 10-0.