Tim Kalkirtz
sports writer
Both of Dominican’s soccer teams are headed to the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Tournament, with both the men’s and women’s teams finishing 2nd in their conferences. The men will play their first game of the tournament on Halloween, while the women play on November 1st.
The men’s soccer team qualified for the tournament after a strong season, finishing with an 8-2-0 record at home and a record of 12-4-0 total. Their goal differential within the conference was a clear indication of dominant performance against their opponents, 43 goals for and 10 goals against (+33). The men’s team is also going into the post season hot, winning 8 of their last 10 games.
The women’s soccer team had a very dominant season, earning them the 2nd seed in the conference, just behind the Milwaukee School of Engineering. They were undefeated this season both against conference opponents and their full schedule, finishing 8-0-2 in the conference and 15-0-4 total.
The goal differential for the women’s team was also a key indication of their strong performance, with 37 goals for and 4 goals against within the conference. Only 4 goals were scored on them in 10 games against conference opponents, giving the Stars the best goal differential in the conference (also +33). To give a comparison to the worst goal differential in the conference, Alverno College had 3 goals for and 72 against within conference games, which is (-69).
Several players on both teams brought what they learned from their experiences in the 2016 NACC Tournament to help have greater success this year. Last year, the men’s team came into the tournament the #1 seed, while the women’s team was the #3 seed in their tournament.
Last season, the men’s team earned a first round bye-week to rest up for the semifinals with their top seed. Seeds 3-6 have to compete for their chance to play against the top two teams. In the semi-finals, Dominican played the 6th seed Wisconsin Lutheran.
The semi-final match ended up being their only game played in the tournament, as the game was tied at the end of regulation time. The game was then decided by a shootout, where Wisconsin Lutheran won 5-4. The men’s playoff run was cut short after high expectations were set following a conference-leading season.
The women’s team did not earn the luxury of a first round bye-week, finishing 3rd in the conference, and having to battle to earn a spot in the semi-finals. They defeated the #6 seed Benedictine University 2-0 in the first round.
The Stars moved on to the next round, facing the 2nd seeded Edgewood College in the semi-finals. Regulation time in the semi-final game ended with a 1-1 tie, but the Stars defeated Edgewood in a shootout 4-2. This big win pushed Dominican through to the final round of the NACC Tournament.
The final game of the tournament was played against the 1st seed Milwaukee School of Engineering. Dominican’s dreams of carrying on to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament were cut short in the NACC finals. In a hard-fought and low-scoring game, the Stars fell to MSOE 1-0 to end their season.
The men’s and women’s teams will both have a first round bye-week this year with both teams heading into the tournament at the #2 seed. Both teams earn an automatic ticket to the semi-finals, and are only a win away from the NACC Tournament finals.
The men will take on the highest seeded team remaining from the first round, which will be one of Aurora, Benedictine, MSOE, or Marian. If they win, they will move on to the finals to face the winner of Concordia Wisconsin vs. the lowest remaining seed of the same teams previously listed. If they win in the final, they will head to the NCAA national tournament.
The women will also take on the highest seed remaining after the first round, playing one of Aurora, Concordia Wisconsin, Marian, or Benedictine. If they win, they move on to face the winner of first-seed MSOE vs. the lowest remaining seed after the first round in the finals. And, same as the men, they will continue to the NCAA national tournament if they can win in the finals.
Heading into this year’s tournament, there are certainly a few players to keep an eye on for both teams. A majority of the men’s team’s offense flows through three players, and the women’s team features a dominant star coming off a league-leading season as well as a strong playmaker to compliment her.
From the men’s team, sophomore Nico Vitale and seniors Jonathan Arzeta and Adam Yaghmour have all tied for the team lead in points at 31. Vitale, a strong forward, leads the team in goals with 14, and has had several standout performances throughout the year. Yaghmour has also been a huge part of the forward group and the team’s goal-scoring, finishing with 13 goals on the season. Arzeta has also been a key piece in this team’s offensive success, making plays from midfield, and leading the team in assists with 17.
Sophomore Josseline Williams has been an absolutely integral part of the women’s team, and has torn apart the league offensively this season. Williams led both Dominican and the NACC in goals and points, finishing the season with 28 goals and 61 total points. The next highest points leader in the league had 33 less total points. Many of Williams’ goals have also been key goals, leading the Stars in game-winning-goals with 7. She is capable of scoring a high quantity as well as quality goals when the team needs it.
Tania Paez, a junior at Dominican, also played a large role in the women’s team’s success. Paez lead the NACC in assists with 11, as well as finishing 2nd in points for Dominican with 25. Like Arzeta with the men’s team, Paez has been setting up key plays from the midfield position.
kalktimo@my.dom.edu