Brookhaven Shuts Out Genesee in Semis to Reach National Championship Game Sunday
Dallas College Brookhaven's No. 1-ranked women's soccer team blanked Genesee Community College, 2-0, in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III semifinals Friday in Herkimer, New York.
The win sends the Bears (15-0-1) on to Sunday's 12 p.m CT national championship game against Mohawk Valley Community College. It will mark the first time in program history Brookhaven will have a chance to repeat after the Bears won their third national title last season.
Kenya Reynolds scored with 58 seconds remaining in the first half to break up a scoreless contest, giving Brookhaven a lead and momentum going into the halftime intermission. Meah Perez, who assisted on the gamewinning goal, also added a winner of her own 3:21 into the second half when she found the back of the net on a feed from Whitni Newbill.
It was Reynolds' fourth goal of the season. Perez scored for the third straight game. She's bumped her season point total from none entering the NJCAA DIII Mid-South District championship game against No. 4 Dallas College Richland to seven points over the past three games.
Brookhaven goalkeeper Hayli Nichols made four saves to improve to 11-0-1 this season and 16-0-1 in her two-year Bears career. She hasn't been scored on since allowing a goal in a 1-1 tie to Richland on Sept. 16. That's covered a span of 12-plus games and 718:06 between the posts since an opponent has sniffed the back of the net.
Genesee keeper Kellie Brewer stopped eight of the 10 shots she faced.
The win was Brookhaven's 13th consecutive victory, and it marked the team's 14th clean sheet of the year.
Brookhaven outshot Genesee, 18-6, handing the Cougars (10-4-1) their first loss since a 4-0 defeat to Monroe Community College on Oct. 11.
After Brewer stopped Perez in the 46th minute, Brookhaven's crafty defender-turned scoring sniper slipped an insurance goal by her when Newbill found her in the 49th minute. Perez cracked another shot on frame in the 53rd minute, but Brewer made the save.
Perez ripped off seven shots, including four on goal. Her assist on Reynolds' gamewinner came 42 seconds after she blasted a shot high.