OPENING KICKOFF: The Snow College women's soccer team hosts Cochise College Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at the Snow College Soccer Complex in Ephraim for the West District Championship. With a win, the Badgers will automatically qualify for the NJCAA National Tournament.
Snow College enters the matchup on a six-game winning streak after capturing the Region 18 Championship, where the Badgers defeated Salt Lake Community College 1-0 in the final. Prior to that, they earned a 1-0 double-overtime victory against Utah State University Eastern to advance. The Badgers finished conference play with a 9-2-3 record and hold an overall record of 13-3-3, having scored 51 goals across 18 games.
KNOW YOUR FOE: Cochise College enters the match after winning the Region 1 Championship, defeating Arizona Western College 1-0 in the title game. Despite being outshot 22-9, the Apaches scored in the 78th minute to secure the win. In their first tournament match, the Apaches won in penalty kicks over Eastern Arizona College.
The Apaches finished conference play with an 8-3-2 record and hold an 11-4-3 overall mark. As a relatively new program, established in 2022, Cochise has faced Snow College only once before — earlier this season.
In that matchup, the Badgers earned a 4-0 shutout victory. The Badgers opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Saige Meryhew finished a pass from Mirabel Shellabarger to make it 1-0. Meryhew added another goal in the 39th minute, assisted by Anna Monson, giving the Badgers a 2-0 halftime lead.
The Badgers continued to press offensively in the second half, with Brenna Arauzo scoring in the 62nd minute and again in the 71st, both assisted by Monson, who tallied three assists in the match. The Badgers outshot Cochise 12-5 and controlled possession for much of the contest.
LAST TIME OUT: The Snow College women's soccer team won their fourth Region 18 Championship in program history after earning a pair of victories over the weekend. After defeating Utah State University Eastern 1-0 in double overtime Thursday, the Badgers went on to beat No. 5 Salt Lake Community College 1-0 in the title game.
In Thursday's semifinal match against the Eagles, the Badgers earned a 1-0 victory. The game remained scoreless through 90 minutes of regulation despite consistent offensive pressure from Snow College. The Badgers created several chances on goal but couldn't find the back of the net, sending the match into overtime.
In the second extra period, the Badgers finally broke through when Bailee Ballard netted the game-winning golden goal in the 104th minute, assisted by Kalle Jackson.
The Badgers totaled 13 shots, including seven on goal, while holding USUE to just three shots and one on target.
In Saturday's championship match against the Bruins, the Badgers claimed another 1-0 victory. Snow College opened the scoring in the 29th minute when Brindee Jones slotted one past the keeper off a corner kick from Ballard.
The Badgers maintained their lead for the remainder of the match, limiting the top-seeded Bruins to just two shots on goal—both saved by Daisy Williams—to secure the Region 18 Title. Snow College tallied three shots in the game, all on target.
Ballard was named Tournament MVP and selected to the All-Tournament Team alongside Kelsie Peterson, Madelyn Moss, Brindee Jones, and Williams.
UP NEXT: The advancing team from Saturday's matchup will earn an automatic bid to the NJCAA National Tournament, scheduled for Nov. 16th–22nd in Florida. The last time Snow College appeared in the national tournament was in 2021, when the Badgers defeated Navarro College in penalty kicks before falling to Seminole State in the next round. For video streaming and live stats, visit snowbadgers.com
