The Kellogg Community College women’s soccer team earned the regional championship title for the first time in program history Sunday.
KCC’s Bruins went into this weekend’s National Junior College Athletic Association Region 12 Division II Tournament in Marysville ranked 18th 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 the following day.
Saturday’s 2-2 score after overtime led to a seven-round shootout, ultimately ending on a goal by freshman forward Kayla Vogel (Battle Creek/Pennfield High School). The victory marked the women’s soccer program’s first regional playoff win in program history.
Also scoring Saturday were freshman forward Aubrey Phenicie (Kalamazoo/Portage Central High School) and sophomore midfielder Lydia Schamanek (Cadillac/Cadillac High School), who each had a goal during gameplay and in the shootout. Scoring additional goals during the shootout were freshman midfielder Allison Dietzel (Portage/Portage Central High School), sophomore midfielder/forward Rayna Richardson (Austin, Texas/Gateway College Preparatory School) and freshman forward Sophia Saunders (Otsego/Otsego High School).
Sunday’s regional championship win saw the competitors enter overtime tied 0-0, with the championship ultimately decided on a goal from Dietzel.
Head Women’s Soccer Coach Levi Butcher called the weekend “a true Cinderella story.”
“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,” Butcher said. “Winning in a shootout in the semis over a very good SC4 team was amazing. 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.”
Four KCC players were named to the NJCAA Region 12 Division II All-Tournament Team, including Dietzel, freshman goalkeeper Airanna Griecci (Chelsea/Chelsea High School), freshman midfielder/forward Lucy Lampart (Kalamazoo/Home School) and 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 Coach Butcher.
It was a huge 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.
For more information about women’s soccer at KCC, including a roster, full season schedule, the latest statistics and photos of each player, visit kelloggbruins.com/sports/wsoc or contact Head Women’s Soccer Coach Levi Butcher at wsoccercoach@kellogg.edu.
For more news about Kellogg Community College, view our latest press releases online at https://daily.kellogg.edu/category/news-releases.