Brookhaven Claims District Title, Headed to New York for National Championships
FARMERS BRANCH, Texas – With a wide-eyed look of determination, Whitni Newbill chased down a ball along the sideline, turned into the field and fed a crossing ball into the box.
Meah Perez headed it into the back of the net, and the No. 1-ranked Dallas College Brookhaven women's soccer team had everything it needed.
No. 1 @DCBWomensSoccer used this goal to book its trip to NY for the @NJCAA_Soccer DIII Championships https://t.co/Ut6Pj4msEH
— Dallas College Athletics (@AthleticsDallas) October 29, 2022
At least for now.
Brookhaven, the top-ranked team in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III poll and defending national champions, beat Dallas College Richland, 1-0, on a light rainy Saturday to claim the Mid-South District title. The win sends the Bears (13-0-1) back to the NJCAA Championships Nov. 9-13 in Herkimer, N.Y.
"We're all hyped," Ivelyn Jimenez said after her defensive unit put up its 11th straight shutout. "We're just super excited. We're motivated, as we were for this game, but we're going to put a lot more for our next upcoming games."
No. 1 @DCBWomensSoccer is headed to New York for the @NJCAA_Soccer DIII Championships#NJCAA | #PostseasonSoccer | #DallasCollegeProud | #BrookhavenBears pic.twitter.com/OlFaDNwgkp
— Dallas College Athletics (@AthleticsDallas) October 29, 2022
It was Perez's first goal of the season, and it couldn't have come at a better time. It was a game where the Bears registered just four shots on goal against the gritty Thunderducks (9-6-1) in the third meeting between the two teams. All three meetings were determined by a difference of two goals – a tie and a pair of one-goal victories for the Bears.
Brookhaven beat Richland, 1-0, for the district championship on Oct. 28, 2019 the last time these two teams met at this stage. The Bears went on to win the national championship that season.
This marks the first time in the seven years since head coach Jimmy Elder took over that the Bears will have a crack at back-to-back national titles.
"Quite frankly, I'm very relaxed," Elder said. "We don't have a lot to lose. We've done the hardest thing possible, which is to get there."
⚽️�� @DCBWomensSoccer coaches have built something special at @brookhaven_dc. They're headed to the @NJCAA_Soccer DIII Championships to defend their national title.#NJCAA | #PostseasonSoccer | #DallasCollegeProud | #BrookhavemBears pic.twitter.com/AZnwli7qoo
— Dallas College Athletics (@AthleticsDallas) October 29, 2022
Brookhaven starting goalkeeper Hayli Nichols made one save in the first half before giving way to Cameron Watson in the second. Watson stopped two shots to preserve the tandem's 10th shutout of the year. The Bears goalkeeping pair has combined to keep a clean sheet through the past 990 minutes.
"I've been here two years with Cameron, and I trust her fully," Nichols said after improving to 11-0-1 between the posts. "We don't see it as competition. We see it as a team."
Newbill's assist on the gamewinning goal was her eighth of the season, giving her a team-leading 32 points.
"Whitni's been an absolute monster for us all season," Brookhaven seven-year assistant coach Robert Williams said. "We know that any loose balls, she's got the fitness, endurance and speed to chase down everything. She's like a dog."
This Bears team has had a seize-the-moment mentality all season. They'd like to become the first under Elder and Williams to rewrite history with a national title.
"We're hyper focused for that national trophy," Perez said. "It is pretty nerve-wracking since we have been the No. 1 team since we have a target on our back. But with the right motivation and the effort we put in at practice and during games, I think we can really go all the way."
One thing is for certain, these girls will be playing Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind" for the next two weeks as they head for Upstate New York.
"We're ready to get that national championship," Jimenez said.
Yep, now they're in New York …
