Olivia McPherson and Lindsay Ferris headlined a large contingent of Waubonsee Community College Women's Soccer team members who were recently recognized for their success during the abbreviated Spring 2021 season. McPherson was named an NJCAA Division II First Team All-American, while Ferris was selected an Honorable Mention All-American. Of the seven Chiefs' players who have been honored as junior college All-Americans in program's 20-year history, McPherson is the first one to be chosen to the First Team.
In addition, McPherson and Ferris, along with midfielder Eliana Zagoren, were each named to the All-Region First Team. Sophomore defender Rachel Polignone, goal keeper Daisy Quinonez and defender Kiara McPherson were all selected to the Region IV Second Team. Additionally, both of the McPherson twins along with Ferris and Zagoren were each chosen to the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) First Team. Quinonez was named the ISCC's Goalie of the Year, while Polignone and fellow defender Emely Mendoza, along with midfielders Sarai Munoz and Ashley Bailey were each tabbed All-ISCC Second Team. Midfielder Yari Aguado was named the Most Valuable Player of the Region IV Division II Tournament, and head coach Brad Schlemmer was selected the ISCC and Region IV Women's Soccer Coach of the Year.
After earning NJCAA All-American honors on the volleyball court, the 5'5" Olivia McPherson stepped onto the soccer pitch and achieved even more success. McPherson was selected as the ISCC Player of the Year after leading Waubonsee to the league title. The Chiefs then captured the Region IV title and a berth in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, where McPherson was tabbed to the All-Tournament team. The freshman forward finished tied for the most goals scored in the country among all junior college players, at all levels. McPherson netted 26 goals in just 13 matches played, while also booking five assists. The Aurora West High School graduate's total of 57 points was third nationally among Division II junior college players and she was tied for fifth in game-winning goals with five.
Ferris, a freshman defender from Geneva High School, anchored a Chiefs' defense that posted eight shutouts. She started all 14 of the Chiefs' matches, including playing all 212 minutes of Waubonsee's two overtime matches in the sweltering heat at the National Tournament near Augusta, Georgia. A graduate of Aurora East High School, Quinonez finished sixth nationally with nine wins in goal for the Chiefs. The sophomore was 15th nationally with an .839 save percentage, and her 1.15 goals-against-average (GAA) placed her 20th nationally among all Division II keepers. Zagoren, a sophomore midfielder from Batavia High School, booked 10 goals and was credited with four assists on the season. Her 24 total points were second on the team, while she also registered a pair of game-winning goals.
Kiara McPherson also went straight from competing for the Chiefs' volleyball team to making an impact on the soccer field. After earning First Team All-ISCC as the main setter for the Chiefs' volleyball squad, the freshman from Aurora West High School tied for the team lead in assists with nine. McPherson also scored five goals before playing more of a defensive role later in the season. Polignone, who was named All-ISCC Honorable Mention in 2019, was a key cog in the Chiefs' defense. The sophomore from Batavia High School, who will be continuing her collegiate playing career at Aurora University, helped Waubonsee post a GAA of 0.91 to place 13th nationally in that team category. A freshman from Aurora East High School, Mendoza also played a vital role in the Chiefs' defense. With the aid of Mendoza, a trio of Chiefs' keepers recorded 92 saves during the season, the 15th most among all NJCAA Division II teams.
From her midfielder position Munoz helped direct much of the Chiefs' attack and also helped out on defense when needed. The freshman from Aurora West High School finished the season with seven goals and six assists. Bailey, who also earned All-ISCC and All-Region Honorable Mention honors in 2019, tied for the team lead in assists with nine. That placed the sophomore midfielder from Oswego High School in a six-way tie for seventh nationally in that category as well. Along with Bailey and McPherson, Aguado was one of those six as she also tied for the team lead in assists with nine. The sophomore midfielder from Yorkville High School came up big for the Chiefs in the Region IV Tournament, tallying the game-winning goal in all three of Waubonsee's wins to earn the Most Valuable Player award.
Schlemmer registered his 100th career head coaching victory midway through the season on the way to leading Waubonsee to the ISCC crown for the second time during his tenure. During Schlemmer's 12 years with the Chiefs' program Waubonsee has reached the Region IV title game 10 times, including seven of his nine years as head coach. During that time his teams have an overall winning percentage of 63 percent and have won 73 percent of their ISCC matches.
Waubonsee's soccer team normally competes in the Fall, but played this past Spring due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Chiefs went 5-0 in ISCC play to capture the league title for the fourth time in program history. Waubonsee finished the abbreviated Spring season 10-1-1 overall, winning the Region IV Division II Tournament to earn a berth in the National Tournament for the third time in the last decade. The Chiefs' season came-to-a-close after a pair of heartbreaking losses, the first on penalty kicks to Muskegon (MI) Community College and the other in double overtime to top-ranked and eventual National Champion Phoenix (AZ) College. Waubonsee was ranked 12th in the final NJCAA Division II poll. The Chiefs were tied with Muskegon for the most goals scored nationally with 65 and were second in points with 183, trailing only Muskegon. Schlemmer's squad was also third among all NJCAA Division II teams with 53 assists, and fourth overall with 4.64 goals per match average.
O. McPherson L. Ferris E. Zagoren R. Polignone D. Quinonez K. McPherson E. Mendoza S. Munoz A. Bailey Y. Aguado B. Schlemmer