EVANS, Ga. -- While the 2022 Polk State soccer season did not end with a victory accompanied with a trophy-hoisting celebration, the Eagles did conclude the year with a meaningful win that honored their graduating sophomores. Fourth-seeded Polk took down fifth-seeded Seminole State (OK) College 3-1 to conclude Pool D play. 
 
At 1-1, the Eagles bowed out of the NJCAA Championship.
 
Sophomore forward Jillian Johnson had a night to remember in her last contest wearing a Polk uniform. Johnson scored to get the Eagles on the board in the 25th minute on a fantastic solo effort where she beat three defenders into the box and rocketed the ball top shelf.
 
Johnson netted her second goal of the match in the 28th minute when she one-touched a beautiful cross from fellow sophomore forward Raisa Lugo into the back of the net to grow the Eagles' advantage to 2-0. Johnson pushed her season goal total to nine with the pair of scores. 
 
Lugo's assist pushed her season point total to 71, which ranks second in the nation. Lugo concludes the season ranked in the top three nationally in goals scored, assists, points, and shots.

An own-goal in the 42nd minute accentuated the Eagles' tremendous first half of play, pushing them to a 3-0 lead over the Trojans.

Polk owned possession in the first half, which was reflected in a 9-1 advantage in the shot count.
Sophomore goalkeeper Sophia Nicholls notched seven saves in the second half, as Seminole State came out strong looking to make a push. However, the Trojans only got one back in the 82nd minute on a strike from Chelsea Vilca.
 
"It meant so much to have the closure of a total team win on the season tonight," said Polk State Head Coach Jessica Belli. "Although the season did not end the way we had hoped, there is still so much to be proud of in how this team came together as a family and helped take this program to new heights."
 
The win was Polk State's first win at the national NJCAA Tournament since 2009. With the victory, the Eagles finished the season 18-2, having captured Region 8 and South Atlantic District championships, ranking in the top five nationally in six statistical categories, and so much more to be proud of.