Magical season yields first Region 4 crown for South Suburban

SOUTH HOLLAND, ILL. - The 2022 women's soccer season will be marked as a historic one at South Suburban College as the Lady Bulldogs won their first-ever NJCAA Region 4 Women's Soccer Tournament Championship. Sixth-seeded South Suburban College was awarded the region title via forfeit against fourth-seeded Bryant & Stratton College. Freshman forward Amaris Gonzalez was named the Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player, and coach Jose "Tony" Gonzalez earned Region 4 Coach of the Year accolades.

South Suburban College, which finished runner-up to Waubonsee Community College in last year's region tournament, upset #3-seed Morton College in the quarterfinals by a 1-0 tally, and then took down another Cinderella contender in #7-seed College of Lake County by a 6-2 final in the semifinals. Gonzalez had four goals and two assists, highlighted by the game-winner against Morton College and a hat trick to send the Lady Bulldogs back to the finals.

The Lady Bulldogs, who earned an at-large bid into the national tournament last season, pick up an automatic bid into the 2022 NJCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championships in Tucson, Arizona, from November 14-19. South Suburban College (13-3-1) are the #11-seed in the 12-team field, and will compete in Pool B against #2 Phoenix College and #7 Southwestern Illinois College.

The final NJCAA Division II Poll featured Bryant & Stratton College at #12, South Suburban College at #13, Triton College at #19, and Waubonsee Community College receiving votes.

Region 4 Tournament MVP
Amaris Gonzalez - South Suburban College

Region 4 Coach of the Year
Jose "Tony" Gonzalez - South Suburban College