The Holy Cross women’s soccer team wrapped up their regular season on Wednesday night, finishing on level terms in a goalless draw against Trinity Christian. The result bumped the Saints to 9-5-3 on the season and 8-1-3 in conference play, marching the team into the NAIA National Playoffs for the first time in program history.
The qualification stems from the Saints’ automatic qualification spot after topping the Chicagoland Athletic Conference regular season rankings. The monumental moment has evoked a great sense of pride within the Holy Cross community.
“I am incredibly proud of coach Duma Magagula and the Holy Cross women’s soccer team for achieving such an incredible accomplishment. These coaches and women have earned the first ever regular season CCAC championship and, thereby, have earned an automatic bid to the NAIA national tournament. This historic moment speaks volumes to their dedication and commitment to making this year so incredibly successful. All that is left to is say is ’Go Saints,’” Holy Cross’ director of athletics Robert Pastoor said.
The Saints finished the season 8-1-3 in conference play. They now receive home-field advantage throughout the entirety of the CCAC playoffs.
Against the Trolls, Holy Cross showed off why they have been the team to beat all season long. The Saints outshot Trinity Christian 10-8 and notched a total of 11 corner kicks. In the 69th minute of play, junior forward Miriam Iturriaga-Sanchez’s powerful effort was denied by the woodwork.
Iturriaga-Sanchez is a critical piece in coach Magagula’s team for three years now, and her efforts have played a large role in Holy Cross’ rise to the top of the CCAC. During her sophomore year, she tallied a team-high 12 goals and five assists. This season, she’s scored three goals and dished out five assists. Although she hasn’t found the back of the net as much as she may have hoped after a goal-frenzy season last year, her relentless work-rate and physical presence in the attacking third has created havoc for opposing defenses.
Defensively, junior defender Abigail Fouts has been a stalwart. One of the Saints’ three captains, Fouts has guided the Saints to allowing only four goals through their last eight games of the season. In that span, Holy Cross has recorded six wins and two draws. It’s been this stretch of form that has inspired Holy Cross to a near-perfect record in conference play.
Fouts is assisted by fellow defenders Frances Parks, Erika Perez and Emma Vono. The back-four create for the most formidable unit in the CCAC.
The Saints have also accomplished this great success through a predominantly local squad. Parks and Perez are from Mishawaka and Elkhart, respectively. Meanwhile, goalkeepers Janiah Juarez and Payton Ladson are South Bend and Penn High School alumni. In total, 13 players on the Saints’ roster are from Indiana.
Magagula’s local recruiting efforts have paid dividends. Those homegrown talents now have legitimate national championship aspirations.
If the CCAC rankings hold as is, the Saints will square off against Indiana Northwest in the first round. They tied the RedHawks 3-3 on Oct. 19 in a back and forth game. Iturriaga-Sanchez scored the game-tying goal for the Saints in the final five minutes of the match.
The time for the game will be finalized in the coming days. Updated information can be found on Holy Cross’ athletic website and social media platforms.
