Lady Tribs take Region XII title

LIVONIA, Michigan - The high-scoring duo of Roosa Ariyo and Thenia Zervas has been the backbone of the attack for the MCC women's soccer team this season. And it was no different during the weekend's Region XII tournament.

Ariyo and Zervas had a hand in 11 of Monroe's 12 goals as the Tribunes defeated Muskegon CC 6-2 on Saturday and Jackson College 6-1 on Sunday to claim the Region XII title and advance to next weekend's North Central District title game.

MCC (13-4-0) will face Moraine Valley CC on Saturday. The winner will move on to the NJCAA national tournament.

Ariyo had three goals and an assist and Zervas added four assists in the big win over Muskegon on Saturday. Zervas put up the hat trick Sunday, while Ariyo chipped in with two more scores. Ariyo was named tournament MVP, while Zervas made the all-tournament team.

A huge first half propelled the Tribunes against Muskegon. Ariyo got the team on the board less than two minutes in, and Katrina Yencer added two more scores later in the half. Ariyo's second of the game gave Monroe a 4-0 lead at the half.

Muskegon rebounded with two straight in the second period to cut the lead in half, but Yencer and Ariyo added goals to finish off their respective hat tricks. Each player also added an assist, while Zervas assisted on the last four Monroe goals.

Ariyo once again got Monroe on the board during Sunday's title game against Jackson. Zervas then scored, and Ariyo tallied again to make it 3-0 at the break.

Zervas then converted a pair, and Caitrin Rennoldson found the back of the net from 25 yards away to make it 6-0. Jackson broke the shutout in the 89th minute.

Yencer and Justina Meneses added assists on Sunday. 

Meryl Wakefield made a pair of saves in the win on Saturday. The freshman keeper then played 75 scoreless minutes in the win against Jackson. Madison Mikula backstopped the final 15 minutes.

Yencer and defender Arianna Green joined Ariyo and Zervas on the all-tournament team.