“ It was an unbelievable defensive effort .”
The defense allowed just two goals in the final 10 games and none after the first game of the tournament .
Cetina was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player in the Tournament , as the freshman played a key role in the team ’ s win . Cetina scored twice in the tournament and seven times overall this season .
Holding midfielder Kirsty Woodacre was named the Defensive Most Valuable Player . The freshman from London , England helped control things in the middle of the field . Woodacre , a natural center defender , started about halfway through the regular season and became a big part of the defensive scheme .
“ It is nice to be recognized , but I have to give all the credit to the players first , then the coaching staff and the administration here at Eastern Florida State College – it is a whole team effort , and luckily I get to hold up the trophy . But it ’ s a big team effort .”
Carswell said . “ We asked them to leave everything on the field and I think they did that .”
The national team title was the first for an Eastern Florida State College athletics program since the men ’ s golf team won in 1991 , and is the eighth national title in EFSC history . The women ’ s soccer program has been in 11 straight national tournaments . This was their third appearance in the national championship game , but the first win .
The entire week was a special one . It started by honoring Eastern Florida State College Associate Vice President of Athletics Jeff Carr , who was inducted into the NJCAA Women ’ s Soccer Hall of Fame during the Opening Ceremony dinner at Daytona State College .
Carr started the women ’ s soccer program and was the head coach until last year , finishing with 150 wins , 23 losses and six ties over 11 seasons , making the national tournament eight straight seasons and finishing runner-up twice in 2012 and 2015 .
But Carr was not alone in receiving accolades this fall .
The coaching staff was named the 2021 Junior College National Staff and Coach of the Year by United Soccer Coaches .
Head coach Scott Carswell , assistant coaches Jordan Humbert , Sydney Drinkwater and Eddie Raleigh led the Titans to a 10-2-3 record , winning the regular season title , the Region 8 Championship title for the 11th straight season before cruising in the South Atlantic final to make the national tournament .
“ We are fortunate to have this staff . The thing that makes them the best is that they are not just going along with what I say . They voice their opinions and come up with good ideas for how we can get better every day ,” Carswell said of his assistants . “ I can trust them . They are on the same mission that I am . I played with Eddie 35 years ago and have coached Jordan and Sydney since they were nine . Those are the kind of people you want to have around you as a head coach .”
Cetina was named the United Soccer Coaches 2021 Women ’ s Soccer Junior College National Player of the Year and was named to the United Soccer Coaches first team All-America Team with teammates Jessica DeBiasse and Woodacre .
Midfielder Kurumi Arakawa became the 10th NJCAA Division I first team All-America selection in program history .
The team was recognized from the House Floor on the 46th Day of Regular Session in February . District 51 Representative Tyler I . Sirois recognized the team from the Floor and took a photo with the team .
Off the field , the team excelled in the classroom as well , finishing the fall semester with a 3.75 grade point average .
8 | EFSConnections Summer 2022