Women's Soccer Gears Up For Central District Championship with Spot in National Championships on the Line
De Queen, Ark. - UA Cossatot women's soccer awaits their biggest day in program history tomorrow, as the Colts are set to take on No. 9 St. Charles Community College Saturday morning at 11 a.m. in the Central District Chmpionship, with the winner securing one of 12 spots in the NJCAA National Championship.
The Colts already made history by capturing the first conference title in UA Cossatot athletics history in late October, and now seek to advance to the NJCAA DII Women's Soccer Championships at the SCHEELS Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kan. from November 16-22.
UAC and STCC are no strangers to each other this season, with the Cougars narrowly coming out on top 4-3 against Cossatot at home in St. Charles, Mo. on Oct. 5.
UA Cossatot has been building up for moments like these ever since the addition of soccer beginning in the 2023 fall season was announced in May 2022. Head Coach Justin Hinman is in his third season in charge, with his hiring having been announced on Feb. 21, 2023.
At the time of UA Cossatot Soccer's introduction, UA Cossatot Chancellor Steve Cole said "Soccer coming to UA Cossatot is the natural progression of our sports offerings. We wanted to make sure we would have world-class facilities before starting soccer and it looks like we will have that right here in De Queen. It is also natural to have soccer at UA Cossatot because our area has produced more class 4A and 5A high school state soccer championships than any other area. We are proud to build on that heritage. The area UA Cossatot serves also has the absolute greatest soccer fans on the planet, and to add collegiate soccer for these fans in 2023 is just another reason to add this program. We will begin recruiting student-athletes for soccer almost immediately, letting soccer players from the area and the world know the Colts will be playing for championships right away."
The Lady Colts made their mark in conference play this season, earning the Region 2 Division II Conference Championship via a 4-1 win away over National Park College on Oct. 1, before defeating the Nighthawks 7-1 in the return leg in De Queen on Oct. 25.
The Cougars have gone 17-1-2 this season, with Cougars winger Katie Stockhausen being second in the nation with 20 assists.
Freshman forward Francesca Dorreus has been a crucial piece for UAC, leading the conference in goals (8), assists (4) and points (20).
"We are going channel every drill, every game, every call up huddle, every late-night film session into a great game Saturday." Volunteer Assistant Coach and De Queen native Franklin Bahena said. "We got the grit, the skill, camaraderie as a team that we have built all season. Now we just have to go out there and prove that and make history."
Kick-off is slated for 11 a.m. at the Colts Soccer Complex, located at 1360 W Collin Raye Dr, De Queen, Ark, 71832. Kids will get free entry with a De Queen Soccer Association shirt, while regular admission is $5.