COLBY, Kan. – For the second straight season, the Cowley College women’s soccer team has won the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Division 1 Women’s Soccer regular season crown following a 14-1-0 regular season record and a 13-1-0 mark in conference play to enter the 2026 NJCAA D1 Women’s Soccer Plains District Tournament as the top overall seed.
After winning their first conference crown in four years last year, the Tigers have been one of the top teams in all of NJCAA Division 1 women’s soccer this season as their lone loss came on the road at Butler on September 12th (1-0 defeat). Since their loss to Butler, the Tigers have reeled off 12 straight victories, allowing multiple goals to just one opponent during the 12-match streak. Six of Cowley’s 13 conference wins came by shutout, as the Tigers allowed a conference-best 12 goals this season and outscored opponents 43-12. Led by the freshman Sarah Eckermann, the Tigers have two players who rank in the top seven in goals (Eckermann, 17 goals, Sophie Knaab, 11 goals) as well as two goalkeepers who rank in the top three in goals-against average (Paula Provedo – 0.53 GAA, Ana Sofia Velasco – 1.01 GAA).
Taking second in the KJCCC regular standings to secure the number two seed was Butler with 37 points, as the Grizzlies finished 10 points clear of third-place Hutchinson. A late-season surge from Seward County that saw SCCC earn 10 of their 15 conference points across their final five matches allowed the Saints to finish fourth and grab the final hosting spot for an opening-round home playoff game with a 4-7-3 mark in conference play. Dodge City will be the number five seed in the upcoming NJCAA D1 Women’s Soccer Plains District Tournament, with Barton earning the six seed, Coffeyville the seven seed, and Garden City the eight seed.
Tournament action is scheduled to get underway on Friday, October 30th, with the first of four opening round games when number three seed Hutchinson hosts number six seed Barton at the Salthawk Soccer Complex at 6:00 PM. A trio of matches on Saturday, October 31st will conclude the opening round of action, beginning with number two seed Butler hosting number seven seed Coffeyville at 10:30 AM at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex. Other games set to take place on Saturday include top-seeded Cowley College playing host to number eight seed Garden City in Arkansas City at 1:00 PM, while number four seed Seward County will take on number five seed Dodge City in Liberal at 2:00 PM.
Plains District Tournament semifinal matches are scheduled to take place on Wednesday, November 4th, with the Championship match set for Saturday, November 7th at 2 PM at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Coffeyville, Kansas. The winner of the 2026 NJCAA Division 1 Women’s Soccer Plains District Tournament will earn an automatic qualification into the 2026 NJCAA Division 1 Women’s Soccer National Tournament, held November 15-21 at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Georgia.
