2024 National Tournament Recap | Division I Women's Soccer
WICHITA, Kan. - Iowa Western lost finished the season with a loss in the semi-finals of the 2024 National Championship, losing their first game since 2022.
The Reivers finished the season No. 2 in the NJCAA polls but earned themselves the No.1 seed following a win in the District Championship. They had a 14-0-3 record before entering the National Tournament. Before their narrow loss in the semi-finals the Reivers had maintained a 55-game unbeaten streak.
Iowa Western started the tournament in Wichita with a close win over No. 8 Tyler (Texas), 2-1. The Reivers started the match quickly with a goal from Orhua Hayashi, assisted by Honoka Nohara and Hinami Ogushi. The Apache's responded halfway through the second half but would only hold the tied score for five minutes. It was Hayashi with a second goal of the day to lift the Reivers. Alice Russell also made three huge saves in goal to keep Iowa Western on top.
The last pool play game ended in a 3-0 win for Iowa Western over No. 12 Laramie County (Colo.). Three different Reivers found the net, Oruha Hayashi, Hinami Ogushi and Honoka Nohara. Russell made one save in the match, but a strong defense kept Russell from having too much trouble.
Advancing out of pool play the Reivers were pinned against No. 7 Daytona State in the semi-finals with the opportunity to make their third-straight National Championship game. The Reivers struck first in the 20th minute with a goal from Alexia Medrano but the lead only lasted 10 minutes before it was all square again. With less than seven full minutes on the clock Oruha Hayashi scored her third goal of the National tournament to take the 2-1 lead. It would not last long enough as the Falcons struck with under a minute to tie the game. After two overtime periods the game went to penalties where the Reivers fell 3-2 after seven PK shots by each team.
It was a bitter-sweet ending to the season for the Reivers as they had an amazingly successful season but fell on the penalty shootout in the semi-finals of the National Tournament.
Daytona State would go on to win the National Title game as the No. 7 seed in the tournament.
Iowa Western:
Pool 1 - (1) Iowa Western def. (8) Tyler, 2-1 - Box Score
Pool 2 - (1) Iowa Western def. (12) Laramie County, 3-0 - Box Score
Semifinal - (7) Daytona State def. (1) Iowa Western, 2-2 PK's (3-2) Box Score