Kats Crowned NJCAA Women’s Soccer National Champion Runner-up

The Erie Community College women's soccer team finished the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association National Tournament with an impressive performance and a national champion runner-up accolade to their credit, while finishing the season with an incredible 17-3-1 record.

In what can only be described as a dream season - in addition to the national champion runner-up distinction - the Kats captured their first region title as well as making their first appearance in the national tournament. Erie also hosted its second-ever playoff game (both wins) and set a program record for wins.

After knocking off Brookdale, 3-2, in the quarterfinals, the Kats out-penalty kicked Montgomery in the semifinals, 4-3 in a 2-2 double overtime contest, to advance to the championship game against the nation's No. 1-seeded SUNY Broome Hornets.

Erie entered the contest with just a pair of losses on the season, with one of those to Broome. Unlike the other two opponents the Kats faced in the tournament, Erie had some familiarity with their championship-game foe from about a month earlier.

On this day, the Kats just couldn't contain the duo of Kaelyn Michitti and Alexa Rudilosso, who combined for nine points in a 3-0 Broome win. Michitti scored all three goals with Rudilosso earning three assists. Michitti battled Erie's Abby Lombard all season long for top-scorer in the nation, with the former eventually overtaking Lombard with 100 points on the year. Michitti and Rudilosso were also the only Hornets to score on the Kats during the regular season matchup.

Lombard would make the NJCAA National All-Tournament team along with teammate Hannah Clarkson. Both were instrumental in both the Kats historic season, as well as their advancement to the championship game.

In the three tournament games, Clarkson faced 29 shots and gave up six goals. She had nearly an 85 percent save percentage and a 1.88 goals-against average for the tournament. Lombard led the Kats in scoring with six points in the tournament on a pair of goals and a pair of assists.

Overall for the tournament weekend, four Kats tallied a combined 15 points. In addition to Lombard, Chrissy Alonge registered five points, Sam Carey three points and Kallie Smith had an assist.

Alonge scored two goals and had an assist in the 3-2 quarterfinal win over Brookdale – including the game winner. Smith's lone assist gave the Kats a 2-0 lead in the semifinal game against Montgomery and she was also arguably Erie's most dangerous offensive player creating multiple opportunities.

Carey made a statement in the semifinal contest as well, by first scoring the opening goal in the first-minute of play and then advancing the Kats with the final penalty-kick winner on Erie's fifth attempt. In addition to Carey, Michelle Martinucci, Mackenzie Neary and Brea Borynski also scored on penalty kicks in the semifinal game.