The post-season for the NJCAA Division II women's soccer starts Saturday October 25th. The Lakers ended as the ICCAC champions, earning them the #1 overall seed for the Region 11 tournament. By earning the #1 seed, the Lakers will have a bye and will play in Spencer on Wednesday October 29th at 1:00pm.
Head Coach Mukwa Ogitchida had this to say "Thistournament is special because every game could be the end of the season, and that creates a different kind of pressure and excitement. The golden goal and PK situations force us to prepare in ways we don't during the regular season, focusing on the smallest details that can decide a match.
We're confident in our approach and our identity—we'll continue to emphasize our key principles and play our style of football. At this stage, it's about adapting to each opponent's strengths while keeping our energy high and enjoying the moment so the players can perform at their best.
Our biggest strength is our team chemistry and the trust we have in every player on the roster. Different players have stepped up all season long, which makes us difficult to play against. The main challenge is keeping everyone healthy because we rely on the full squad to succeed.
We're very confident after our recent performances, but we also know every team left in the Region 11 tournament is strong and deserves to be here. If we play with passion and stick to our football, we believe we can get the result each time out.
The beauty of this group is that anyone can be the difference-maker. Ana has been our leading scorer and MVP, but when she missed two games, others stepped up, and we still found goals. Emmas created a lot with her assists, and when she was under the weather, Stina filled in and made an impact. That's what makes this team special—any of our players can rise to the occasion."
The Lakers finished the season 10-4-1 overall and 7-1 in conference. Leading the way for the Lakers is sophomore Ana Zamorano with 7 goals, and 4 assists, followed by sophomores Ines Balaghni with 6 goals and 9 assists, and Miu Kamei with 6 goals and 2 assists.
You can find the link to the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference Tournament Bracket and standings here:
Standings: https://www.iccac.org/sports/wsoc/2025-26/d2/standings
OTHER: Photo of 25-26 team attached.
Link to Roster: https://www.iowalakesathletics.com/sports/wsoc/2025-26/roster
Link to Schedule: https://www.iowalakesathletics.com/sports/wsoc/2025-26/schedule
MEDIA: For more information, please contact Head Men's Soccer Coach Mukwa Ogitchida at mogitchida@iowalakes.edu or the Iowa Lakes sports information office at 712-362-7928.