Brookhaven Women's Soccer Opens NJCAA Championship Tourney Wednesday
NJCAA DIII Women's Soccer Championship Bracket
Dallas College Brookhaven's No. 1 nationally-ranked women's soccer team will open the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Championship tournament against eighth-seeded Anne Arundel Community College 10 a.m. CT Wednesday in Herkimer, New York.
The NJCAA Network will air coverage of the national tournament from Wehrum Stadium.
The Bears (13-0-1) are vying for their second straight national title and fourth overall. Brookhaven won titles in 2017, 2019 and 2021. They were runner-up in 2020-21, and finished third in 2016. All of that national tournament history has come under head coach Jimmy Elder and assistant Robert Williams.
"Jimmy and I have been serial winners, and we needed to bring that culture over to Brookhaven," Williams said. "We inherited our first team, and it didn't go very well. So when we were finally able to bring in our first recruiting class, things changed."
Not much has changed since the Bears won it all last year with an 18-1 record. Brookhaven is unbeaten in its last 30 games, dating back to a 2-1 loss to Ranger College on Sept. 10, 2021. The Bears have won 11 in a row, dating back to a 1-1 double overtime tie with Dallas College Richland in the first of three meetings between the two Dallas Athletic Conference powers this season.
Brookhaven hasn't allowed a goal in 990 minutes, and the Bears have surrendered just two this season.
"The key to our defense has really been our communication and our tactics, and really sticking to the tactics that our coach has given us," freshman defender/forward Meah Perez began. "Putting in our work, and really chasing down the ball no matter what, has really been the key to our defense."
Bears second half goalkeeper Cameron Watson has not allowed a goal in 540 minutes this season. She leads the NJCAA Division III in goals against average (0.00) and saves percentage (1.000), while stopping 15 shots in 11 games played.
Brookhaven beat Delta College, 2-1, to win last year's national title. The Bears gave up 11 goals during the 2021 season.
This year's tournament championship game is set for 12 p.m. CT Nov. 13.
"I think we'll be one of the top teams in the tournament," Elder said. "I think we can play more relaxed, which will be exciting because that will give us a chance to set a new record."