Women's Soccer Playoff Preview; Conference Honors Announced
We meet again … Tomorrow the Scottsdale women's soccer team will host Pima in the NJCAA Region I Division II Semifinals.
The Artichokes and Aztecs are familiar postseason foes, having met in the Region I Semifinals in five of the past six seasons. Last year the Aztecs made the trip to Scottsdale and eliminated the Artichokes 2-1. All told, the Aztecs have advanced to the Finals on four of the five occasions. Pima also won 1-0 in 2021 and 2-1 last 2023, both matches taking place in Tucson. During the Covid season of 2020-21, the semifinal was played during the Spring of '21. In that contest the two sides played to a 3-3 draw, with Pima advancing on penalty kicks. SCC's lone win of the previous five meetings took place in 2018, a 1-0 win at SCC.
This year the two split their season series with SCC losing 2-1 at home on August 25 and later winning in Tucson 2-1 on September 24.
Scottsdale has been led by Elizabeth Wheeler who has scored 15 goals and dished out 7 assists. Mia Loher and Shayla Hunt both have 10 goals this season.
The squad was represented well in the season awards. Tom Hurdle was named the Region I ACCAC Coach of the Year, an honor he also took home for the men's team. Wheeler and Hunt were named to the All-ACCAC Region I First Team. Loher, Maria DeMark, and Cora Still were named to the Second Team. Goalkeeper Kaydence Manning was an honorable mention selection.
The match tomorrow will begin at 6 p.m.