On Monday night, the NHTI Women’s Soccer team fell 3-1 to the University of Cincinnati Clermont in a tough but historic game in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division II National Championship.
The Lynx faced the Clermont Cougars at a neutral site in Pittsburgh, Pa., while NHTI students, faculty and families gathered at the rotunda on campus for a watch party. The Clermont Cougars hunted their third consecutive national championship and ultimately bested the Granite State team.
Head Coach Heidi Crockett, who has coached some of the players on NHTI’s team since they were young, said they all grew into their roles well this season.
“My girls did not give up. They did not give up. They played all the way to the end,” Crockett said.
The team was entirely composed of local players, with Pembroke Academy, Hillsboro-Deering, Belmont, Bishop Brady, Coe-Brown and Concord alumnae making the starting lineup.
Crucially, Pembroke’s Adrienne Dorr, who was named Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) Player of the Year, was missing from the lineup.
NHTI made it to the national championship after a nearly undefeated season. The Lynx had a regular-season record of 10-0-1 and outscored opponents 44-2. In the YSCC playoffs, the Lynx won their quarterfinal and semifinal matches but fell to Southern Maine Community College in the championship, 2-0.
Still, their strong season earned them a spot on the national stage with the second seed. They beat out No. 6 Penn State Mont Alto and No. 3 Christendom College to advance to the championship.
This appearance in the national championship was NHTI’s first in program history and showed the promise of local talent on the big stage. Individually, Coach Crockett was named YSCC Coach of the Year and senior Hailey Knight was YSCC Goalkeeper of the Year. As a whole, the team finished 14-2-1 and will try to return to win it all next year.
After their historic game, the Lynx will travel to Costa Rica in December for an international competition and community service opportunity.
“The chemistry was just amazing with this group, and to top it off with a trip to Costa Rica, they’re never gonna forget to get this year,” Crockett said.