Mesa Captures District Title,
Earns Trip to NJCAA Championships

Dallas, TX -- The Mesa women’s soccer team earned it second straight trip to the NJCAA National Championship Tournament by winning a hard fought 1-0 game over West Texas Regional Champions Cisco Junior College in the District Championship.

Mesa, currently ranked #6 in the nation, relied on a goal in the eighth minute of the match from freshman midfielder Michelle Martinez to earn the victory. Martinez received a pass from forward Ashley Straub twenty yards out from goal and unleashed a powerful shot that left the Cisco keeper stranded as it flew into the upper corner of the net. It was Martinez’ 12th goal of the season and Straub’s team-leading 11th assist.

Mesa keeper Kim Kukla was named MVP of the match after posting five saves in the second half to deny Cisco the game tying goal. Kukla, who is statistically ranked in the top five goalkeepers in the nation finished the game with eight saves and earned her 14th shut-out of the season.

The NJCAA National Championships will be held in Phoenix, AZ, from November 18-21.