It has been quite an inaugural season for the Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) women’s soccer team, and it’s not over yet. Over the weekend, the Blue Knights won the Region XIII Championship by blanking Bethany Lutheran College 3-0 at home in Apple Valley.
The Blue Knights now take their 15-4 record to Illinois on Friday to take on Moraine Valley in a NJCAA District semi-final match. The winner of that contest will play Schoolcraft (Mich.) for the district championship and a trip to the national championship tournament in Phoenix later this month.
Coach Cam Pagani credited the hard work of many key players on the college’s first-ever women’s soccer squad.
“Our team played an exceptional season against some very tough competition,” Pagani said. “I am very proud to be associated with all of them and believe women’s soccer has a promising future at DCTC.”
Played in chilly conditions before the team’s largest crowd of the season, Saturday’s regional championship game belonged to the Blue Knights from start to finish. Hillary Keefer scored two goals, and received credit for an “own goal” in the 3-0 contest. Rebecca Noonan and Sheena Lien each earned one assist during the match, while Goalkeeper Mandy Stockton recorded two saves.
