By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

University Center, Mich.---Dominique Cruz (Northwood/Northwood, Ohio) became the unlikely hero as she scored a second half goal to lead to Owens Community College women's soccer team to a 1-0 upset of No. 15 Schoolcraft College in today's Region XII tournament championship game.

"We moved it around quite well in the midfield, which we struggled to do because Schoolcraft did a good job defensively, but it worked very well," said Owens women's soccer head coach Kenny Hewitt. "We worked it down the left as Haley pulled out from the central striker role and Haley went past two players, cut inside, went to goal, it came back off the post and Dom was in the right place at the right time." 

The win gives the Express a second straight trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I National Tournament in Melbourne, Fla., where they finished sixth in the country last year.

Cruz, a freshman midfielder who had only one goal this season coming into the game scored her goal at the 66:08 mark. Haley Malaczewski (Central Catholic/Toledo, Ohio) got the assist.

"I've never had a team come together like they did," Hewitt said. "All week long, that was the theme. As a team, we do everything together."

Cruz, Malaczewski and the rest of the Express lost two players due to injuries in the second half and had to play most of the second half with no subs.

Chelsie Randolph (Start/Toledo, Ohio) made nine saves in goal for Owens. She produced her seventh shutout of the season.

Malaczewski's assist was her ninth of the season.

The Express will now travel to Melbourne, Fla. for the national tournament Nov. 17-22, which gives them a couple weeks to get some players rested up and back in the lineup.

Notes

Postseason awards will be announced Monday at OwensExpress.com. There was no Region XII All-Tournament team selected this year.

Owens was 0-1-1 against Schoolcraft during the regular season.