Northwest Women’s Soccer Aims for Repeat After Unanimous Preseason No. 1 Ranking

Coming off a perfect 22-0 season and a national championship, the Northwest women’s soccer team is once again the top-ranked program in the nation, securing the unanimous No. 1 spot in both the United Soccer Coaches and NJCAA Division II preseason polls. Head coach James Beattie’s squad will have a target on its back as it prepares to defend its title.

The team’s championship run in 2024 was marked by a program-first No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by the national championship and a collective team GPA that was the highest of any women’s soccer program in the NJCAA. The sophomore class from that team finished their careers with an impressive 43-2 record, with eight players signing to four-year institutions, including midfielder Yaritza Trejo, who became the first Ranger to sign with a Power 5 conference member at Ole Miss.

“It’s part of the program’s culture now to move on to the next level,” Beattie said. “We are so proud of our former players and so excited to watch them compete at some of the highest levels of college soccer in the country.”

The Rangers’ 2025 schedule is packed with challenging opponents, including four non-conference teams and four conference rivals that are either ranked or receiving votes. Among the conference foes are No. 4 Holmes, No. 10 Jones, and No. 15 Pearl River. To prepare for the rigorous season, the team has already faced three NCAA Division I teams in exhibition matches.

“Our goal is to compete at the national level and be the best version of ourselves individually and collectively on and off the field,” Beattie said.

The Rangers will rely on a core group of returning players, including 2024 MACCC Player of the Year Emma Jensen, along with Caroline Hamm, Ruby Barton, and Lillie McCutchen. Beattie has also expanded his recruiting efforts internationally, with new players from Germany, France, and the United Kingdom joining the roster.

Northwest opens its regular season on Saturday, Aug. 23, against No. 14 St. Louis at the JUCO Kickoff Classic in Westfield, Indiana. The team’s first regular-season home match is scheduled for Sept. 12 against National Park.

SCOREBOARD

Saturday, Aug. 23 

Prep volleyball

Lewisburg at Juanita Boddie tournament, Hoover, Ala. 

• Austin, Ala. 2, Lewisburg 1 (25-19, 20-25, 16-14)
• Bayside Academy, Ala. 2, Lewisburg 0 (25-22, 25-23)

Center Hill at Ramp Up tournament

• Center Hill defeats FACS in Gold Bracket play but loses to Brighton, Tenn. Scores were not made available.

Prep cross country

• DeSoto Central, Lewisburg at New Albany meet. Lewisburg girls were team champions behind a third-place finish by Jane Foster. Lewisburg’s Autry Foster was the individual boys champion. Complete results were not made available.

JUCO volleyball at Itawamba Community College

• Northwest 3, Bevill State, Ala. 0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-16)
• Northwest 3, Pellissippi State, Ala. 0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-10)

JUCO women’s soccer

• Northwest 10, St. Louis 0 (Match ended in 70th minute)

Prep swimming

• Lewisburg boys take second at Oxford Invitational meet. Anderson Smith takes first in the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. Lewisburg girls finished second.  Complete results were not available.

Sunday, Aug. 24

JUCO women’s soccer – at Westfield, Ind. 

• Northwest 8, Neosho County, Mo. 0 (game ended with mercy rule)