NJCAA DIVISION II WOMEN’S NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
POOL D: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15
No. 5 Pima 1, Northeast (NE) 0
POOL D: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16
No. 4 Northwest Mississippi 2, No. 5 Pima 1 (2 OT)
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No. 4 Northwest Mississippi advances to the NJCAA D-II semifinal round after beating No. 5 Pima 2-1 in the 108th minute of play Wednesday night at the Kino Grandstand during double overtime. The golden goal came off the foot of Melinda Hernandez.
Pima ended the season 14-3-1 on the year after finishing 1-1 in pool play. Northwest Mississippi won Pool D with a 2-0 record. Northeast (Nebraska) ended the national competition with an 0-2 record in pool play.
Pima scored first with Caitlyn Maher (Catalina Foothills) bouncing an unassisted goal over the head of Addy McCann. The Aztecs hit the crossbar in the 25th minute and McCann punched a shot over the goal few minutes later but the Aztecs could not cash in.
The Aztec lead help up until Hernandez scored off of a scramble in the 50th minute. Delaney Buntin scored in the 70th minute but an off sides call negated the goal. The Aztecs had another opportunity in the 72nd minute with McCann out of position but the last defender stepped in for the save.
The Aztecs hit the left pole in the 81st minute and the rebound passed the end line but McCann was able to shield the ball with her body and no goal was awarded. Still, Pima had an offering in the final 35 seconds of regulation on a breakaway but the shot sailed high.
Play eventually moved into double overtime where the Aztecs hit the crossbar again in the 104th minute and Hernandez scored her second goal of the night four minutes later for the win.
No. 4 Northwest Mississippi will face No. 1 Phoenix College in a seminal match on Friday.
NJCAA DIVISION II MEN’S NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
POOL D: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15
No. 9 Southeastern (IA) 2, No. 5 Pima 0
POOL D: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16
No. 4 Morton College (IL) 3, No. 5 Pima 2
FINAL: Pima loses to Morton College 3-2 after a wild first half. They close pool play at 0-2.
— Nathaniel Martinez (@NateMartTSports) November 17, 2022
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Named one of “Arizona’s Heart & Sol” by KOLD and Casino del Sol, Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014, he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017 and a 2019 AZ Education News recognition. He was a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. He was the first in Arizona to write about high school beach volleyball and high school girls wrestling and his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy is a Southern Arizona voting member of the Ed Doherty Award, recognizing the top football player in Arizona, and he was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Andy was named an Honorary Flowing Wells Caballero in 2019, became a member of the Sunnyside Los Mezquites Cross Country Hall of Fame in 2021 and he was a member of the Amphi COVID-19 Blue Ribbon Committee. He earned a Distinguished Service Award from Amphitheater and he was recognized by City Councilman Richard Fimbres. Contact Andy Morales at amoralesmytucson@yahoo.com
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