Lady Pioneers Soccer Finishes As Runners Up At Region Tourney

WILMINGTON, NC – The Lady Pioneers faced Cape Fear in the Region X Women's Championship and lost 1-0 in a hard-fought game Sunday, ending the season 14-5-1.  Heather Hale (White Knoll HS) made five saves in goal for SMC.

The Lady Pioneers defeated USC Salkehatchie 1-0 on a double-overtime penalty kick Saturday to advance to the Region X Championships.

The 14th ranked Pioneers defeated Wake Tech 2-1 Sunday afternoon  to win the NJCAA Region X Championship and advance to the Southeast District championship.

Sebastian Valasquez (Eastside HS), who was named Region X Player of the Year, and Mateo Zapato (Mauldin HS) scored goals for the Pioneers.

Christian Bono (Rock Hill HS) assisted on both goals.

SMC (15-2-1) will battle on the road Saturday, Nov. 6 against Darton College (16-5) for the Southeast District Title and advancement to the NJCAA Division I National Championships in Tyler, TX.

The Pioneers have not made an appearance at districts since the mid-1990s. They made consecutive trips to the nationals in 1993 and 1994 – coming away in 1994 with the National Title.

The Pioneers beat Louisburg College, 2-0, Saturday to advance to the Region 10 Championship.
Pioneers head coach Dan Kenneally was named both the Region X Men's and Women's Coach of the Year.

Spartanburg Methodist College has 14 intercollegiate teams that compete in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association, which includes colleges in the Carolinas, Virginia and West Virginia.

The College is in its 100th academic year of providing quality education to students in a Christian environment. More than 90 percent of SMC graduates continue their education at other institutions of higher learning.

For more information, contact athletic director Mark Perdue at perduem@smcsc.edu or (864) 587-4237.