National championship trophy stays put as Delta College defends soccer crown

For a split second, everybody seemed frozen in time.

And not because of the sub-freezing temps or the sleet or the snow.

For the first time in more than 98 minutes of taut and intense game time, the ball bounced into the goal in the most improbable of fashions.

And – with the NJCAA Division III women’s soccer national championship in the balance – everybody just stopped in their tracks.

“All the girls were excited, but they didn’t really celebrate because the referee didn’t call it right away,” Delta College coach Damon Amey said. “But he finally called it a goal and everybody just went crazy.”

With a stunning finish, Delta College defeated Dallas College-Brookhaven 1-0 in overtime to successfully complete its mission for back-to-back national championships. For the second year in a row – and third time in six seasons – the best NJCAA Division 3 soccer team in the nation resides at University Center.

“That’s kind of wild,” said Amey, who sports an incredible 150-8-6 record in nine seasons at the helm. “It seems to get better and better every year. I always think ‘How can it?’ But somehow it does.”

The powerhouse Pioneers have reached the final four nine years in a row, finishing as national runner-up four times while winning it all in 2025, 2024 and in the COVID-altered 2020-21 campaign.

It took an unlikely ending to complete the run this time around. Delta and perennial contender Brookhaven waged an epic battle in the championship game, with neither side able to break through in 90 minutes of regulation. About eight minutes into overtime, Delta’s Abby Hendy bombed a free kick from about 40 yards out.

It fell into the arms of Brookhaven goalkeeper Miranda Estrada, who was a perfect 9-for-9 on save percentage to that point. But as the keeper tried to secure the ball, it bobbled out of her grasp.

Delta’s Isabella Workman was on the spot, poking the loose ball into the net to the surprise of all. After a split second of petrification, a mob scene ensued as the Pioneers rejoiced as champions once again.

That ended a storied clash that played out on the frigid pitch in Herkimer, New York – a long way from home for Michigan-based Delta College but much further for Texas-based Brookhaven.

“The wind was like 30 mph, it was 24 degrees out and there was periodically sleet. So it was tough conditions,” Amey said.

“It was funny because our players were saying ‘We’re used to this, they’re not.’ So they didn’t mind it so much.”

Delta stood tall through all the challenges, fronted by keeper Mia Warner as the last line of defense. The Bay City Western product registered seven saves in the shutout and was named tournament Most Valuable Player. The Pioneers allowed just five goals all season.

“She doesn’t face a lot of shots during the regular season, but she always makes the saves she needs to make,” Amey said. “She doesn’t get much recognition because our defense doesn’t allow a lot of shots. But in that game, they had shots, they had corners – and she was absolutely amazing.”

Fellow Bay City Western grad Brooke Swartz joined Warner on the all-tournament team along with Workman, Hendy and Alahna Beckett for Delta.

The Pioneers qualified for the national tournament by outdueling Joliet Junior College 3-1 in the Midwest district final as Swartz, Workman and Beckett each furnished one goal.

They got goals from Ciara Kelly, Ella Wallaker, Workman and Beckett in a 4-0 win over Bristol Community College to open the national tourney then scored a dramatic 2-1 semifinal win over Suffolk Community College on a goal by Molly Siler and the game-winner by Swartz.

And when they outlasted Brookhaven in the marathon final, the Pioneers were on top of the soccer world once again.

“Every group comes in with that in mind now,” Amey said. “Even though we talk about taking it day-by-day, a national championship is on their mind, no matter what. That’s what they want and that’s why they come to Delta.”

The Pioneers feature a handful of players from neighboring Bay County and Saginaw County. Bay City Western’s Brooke Swartz, Mia Warner and Ayla Kreger, Bay City Central’s Marcela Facundo, John Glenn’s Ella Wallaker and Essexville Garber’s Rylee Jatczak and Ciara Kelly hail from Bay County. Saginaw Heritage’s Isabella Workman, Swan Valley’s Maddy Gracias and Valley Lutheran’s Grace Hall represent Saginaw County.

“It’s a fun group to be around, but they know when to take things seriously,” Amey said. “They take coaching really well and put it to use, and that makes my job easy.”

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