After finishing regular season play unbeaten, Heartland women's soccer moved to postseason play this weekend as the Hawks hosted two contests as part of the Region-24 Tournament at The Corn Crib. The top-seeded Hawks defeated fourth-seeded Parkland College 4-0 on Friday afternoon before ultimately falling to second-seeded Southwestern Illinois College 2-1 Sunday in the championship contest.
 
Heartland scored twice in each half in Friday's semifinal win over Parkland, with Viviana Sanchez igniting the scoring with a goal in the 26^th minute on a Maria Hernandez assist. Hernandez added another assist just one minute later, as Ainara Aldeano scored her team-leading 21^st goal of the season to make it 2-0.
 
Jada Mia Lee extended the advantage in the 59^th minute, as Jada Mia Lee found the net with Maria Paladino contributing the assist. Sanchez scored the final goal for the Hawks in the 76^th minute on a Laura Suarez assist.
 
The Hawks would return Sunday to battle a tough SWIC team on a cold and windy afternoon at The Corn Crib. The match was tight throughout, with the deciding goal from the Blue Storm coming in the 69^th minute. SWIC also scored the opening goal of the game just before halftime before Maria Hernandez tied the contest at 1-1 with a goal in the 63^rd minute on a Camila Rico assist.
 
Six Hawks were recognized following the match as part of the Region-24 All-Region Team. Goalkeeper Sofia Mosquera joined Maria Hernandez, Valentina Bernal and Lena Muller on the team, while Jada Mia Lee received Honorable Mention honors. Ainara Aldeano was named the Region-24 Player of the Year, while head coach Matthew Kemp was named the Region-24 Coach of the Year.
 
Heartland (14-1) is now in the running for an at-large bid for the NJCAA DII National Tournament, which will take place Nov. 12-18 at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Ariz. The participating teams will be selected Nov. 7.