Ruiter leads Muskegon CC women's soccer to Region XII title

Sophomore forward Hailey Ruiter's hat trick was all the Muskegon Community College women's soccer team need to the the 2019 NJCAA Region XII Division I women's soccer championship. The Jayhawks knocked off number three seed Lakeland Community College 3-1 on Sunday at Grand Haven High School to claim the title. With the win they improve to 15-4-0, while the Lakers season ends with an 11-5-0 record. 

Ruiter scored 11:42 into the match off a pass from Lia Maggini to get the Jayhawks on the board. Lakeland answered just seven minutes later when Brooke Resse buried a shot at the 18:48 mark, Denver Falz assisted on the goal. The score remained knotted 1-1 at halftime. 

In the 60th minute, Ellie Adams found Ruiter to give the Jayhawks a lead they would never relinquish. Ruiter completed the hat trick with an unassisted goal in the 75th minute. Ruiter was named MVP of the tournament. 

With the win, the Jayhawks advance to the NJCAA Division I Great Lakes District Championship. Muskegon receives a bye into the championship match and will play the the winner of College of Lake County (IL) and Monroe (NY) Community College on Saturday in Grayslake, IL.