A Historic Beginning
Carteret CC Women’s Soccer Earns Regional Honors in Inaugural Season
Four All-Region selections. A Region 10 Coach of the Year. One historic inaugural season.
Every athletic program has a beginning. A first practice. A first game. A first goal. But for Carteret Community College Women’s Soccer, that beginning has already become something extraordinary.
In its inaugural 2026 season, Carteret’s women’s soccer program has earned five prestigious regional honors, with four student-athletes receiving NJCAA Region 10 All-Region recognition and Head Coach Robbie Park being named NJCAA Region 10 Coach of the Year.
For a team assembled just months before its first competition, these accomplishments represent more than individual awards. They mark the arrival of a new collegiate soccer program and the beginning of a legacy that will shape Carteret Athletics for years to come.
Building a Program, Creating a Legacy
From the beginning, Head Coach Robbie Park had an ambitious vision for Carteret Community College Women’s Soccer: establish a competitive program with the potential to compete for championships. With that goal in mind, Park and his coaching staff embraced the opportunity to build the college’s first women’s soccer team, assembling a roster of talented student-athletes in approximately 60 days.
For Athletic Director Scott Lane, finding the right leader was essential to creating a program that would prioritize success both on and off the field. During the hiring process, Lane and Park discovered they shared the same vision for Carteret Athletics.
“Our vision for women’s soccer, just like all of our athletic programs, has always been to build a program rooted in academic excellence, strong character, sportsmanship, and athletic success, including competing for championships,” Lane said.
That shared vision quickly took shape as Park brought together student-athletes eager to make history. Their determination and commitment helped establish a competitive presence against experienced collegiate programs.
“We’ve exceeded my expectations, and that is down to the buy-in from everyone involved,” Park said. “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved, but we’re only getting started.”
For Park, one of the most unforgettable moments came when Carteret scored its first-ever goal, a milestone that made the team’s hard work and dedication all the more meaningful.
“Celebrating that moment with the players and coaching staff was incredible,” Park recalled. “We’d put so much work into getting this program off the ground, and suddenly it all felt real.”
That historic first goal marked the beginning of a season filled with milestones and achievements that would put Carteret Women’s Soccer on the regional stage.
Four Student-Athletes Earn All-Region Honors
By the conclusion of its inaugural season, Carteret Women’s Soccer had earned recognition among established collegiate programs throughout NJCAA Region 10.
Four student-athletes received All-Region honors, awarded to players whose performances rank among the region’s standouts. First Team represents the highest distinction, followed by Second and Third Team recognition.
Carteret’s 2026 All-Region Honorees:
- Kipper Case — First Team All-Region
- Kimberly Alvear — Second Team All-Region
- Tiana Greene — Third Team All-Region
- Justine Belanger — Third Team All-Region
“To have four players recognized in our very first season, against established college programs, is a massive achievement,” Park said. “It speaks volumes about their quality, commitment, and the progress they’ve made.”
Behind those honors are four student-athletes whose experiences reflect the determination, leadership, and personal growth that defined Carteret’s first season.
Kipper Case: Leading the Way
As Carteret’s first team captain and a First Team All-Region selection, Kipper Case experienced several unforgettable milestones, including the program’s first victory on its home field.
“It felt so good to see how proud we made our community and to have so much support behind us,” Case shared. “Getting to experience that moment with my teammates is something I’ll never forget.”
For Case, being part of the inaugural roster carries a significance that goes far beyond one season.
“It’s so special knowing that our team will always be the first in school history, and that’s something that can never change,” she said.
Kimberly Alvear: Setting the Standard
Second Team All-Region honoree Kimberly Alvear hopes the inaugural team will be remembered for its determination and commitment to improvement.
“I hope people remember that, as the first women’s soccer team at Carteret, we were determined, driven, and committed to being the best we could be,” Alvear said.
She also sees Carteret as an opportunity for future student-athletes to continue their education while pursuing their passion for soccer.
“I believe Carteret is a great steppingstone, especially for athletes who want to continue playing soccer or are still deciding what their future in soccer looks like,” she shared.
Tiana Greene: Embracing the Opportunity
For Third Team All-Region honoree Tiana Greene, joining Carteret’s first women’s soccer team was an opportunity to help establish something new while continuing to play the sport she loves.
“I thought it was exciting to help build a program from the beginning and create something that future players could be a part of,” Greene said.
Her regional recognition validated the dedication she brought to the season and strengthened her motivation to continue improving.
“This accomplishment reminds me that the work I put in is worth it and motivates me to keep improving,” she said.
Justine Belanger: Growing Beyond the Field
Third Team All-Region honoree Justine Belanger discovered that being a student-athlete at Carteret offered lessons extending well beyond competition.
She credits a conversation with Coach Park about her attitude and its impact on teammates with helping her develop greater self-awareness and accountability.
“It had a real impact on me, not just as a soccer player but as a person,” Belanger shared.
Through balancing academics, athletics, work, and personal responsibilities, Belanger gained skills she believes will benefit her long after her collegiate soccer career.
“My experiences at Carteret have helped me mature, both as an athlete and as a person, and taught me lessons I can carry throughout college and into my future career,” she said.
Robbie Park Named NJCAA Region 10 Coach of the Year
The inaugural season also brought a major professional milestone for Head Coach Robbie Park, who was named NJCAA Region 10 Coach of the Year.
Park, who previously served on a national championship-winning junior college coaching staff, became the first coach in Carteret’s history to receive the regional honor.
For Park, the recognition carries special meaning because of the commitment required to establish a new program and the dedication of those who helped make it possible.
“To be recognized by fellow coaches in the region, particularly in our first season, means more than I can really explain,” Park said. “But I wouldn’t be receiving this without my players and staff buying into what we’re trying to achieve.”
Lane said Park’s leadership has played an important role in bringing the college’s original vision to life.
“During the search process, Coach Park asked me what my vision was for the program before he decided to apply,” Lane shared. “It quickly became clear that our visions aligned, and I knew he was the right person to lead women’s soccer at Carteret. His recognition as Coach of the Year is a testament to the impact he has already made.”
Carteret Community College President Dr. Tracy Mancini echoed that appreciation, emphasizing the energy and dedication the college’s new coaches have brought to its growing athletics programs.
“We are incredibly proud of the outstanding coaches we’ve welcomed to Carteret Community College,” Mancini said. “Their professionalism, enthusiasm, and commitment to our inaugural teams have been contagious, creating an exciting sense of pride and momentum throughout our college community.”
Looking ahead, Park remains focused on elevating the program and building on the standards established during its first season.
“I want us challenging for conference championships and competing at the national level,” Park said. “That’s the standard I’m working towards.”
A New Chapter for Carteret Athletics
The success of Carteret’s inaugural women’s soccer team represents an important milestone in the college’s growing athletics program, creating new opportunities for students to pursue their educational and athletic ambitions.
According to Lane, the program’s first season has already generated increased interest from prospective student-athletes who want to become part of Carteret’s emerging athletics tradition.
“More importantly, our success is attracting individuals who understand that being a Kraken student-athlete is about more than competing,” Lane explained. “It’s about academic achievement, personal growth, character, and representing the college with pride.”
The success of Carteret’s inaugural athletics programs has also been strengthened by partnerships within the local community, including support from the City of Morehead City in providing access to athletic facilities.
Dr. Mancini expressed her appreciation for the collaboration and its role in supporting the college’s first season of competition.
“We are especially grateful to the Mayor and City Council of Morehead City for their partnership and support of our athletic facilities,” Mancini said. “Their willingness to work alongside Carteret Community College has been instrumental in helping our inaugural teams enjoy such a successful first season. Partnerships like this demonstrate what we can accomplish when our college and community come together to create meaningful opportunities for students.”
Together, the college’s leadership, coaches, student-athletes, and community partners are helping establish an athletics program centered on academic achievement, sportsmanship, and opportunities for student success.
The Beginning of Something Bigger
While the awards have brought recognition to Carteret Women’s Soccer, the program’s greatest achievement may be the foundation established by the young women who believed in its potential before the first game was ever played.
For Lane, the inaugural team will always hold a special place in the history of Carteret Athletics.
“They took a leap of faith, and because of that, they will forever hold a special place in the history of our athletics program,” Lane said. “Their legacy is not just the wins they earned, but the standard they set.”
Park shares that appreciation for the student-athletes who embraced the opportunity to build something new.
“Whatever this program goes on to achieve, this coaching staff and these young women will always be the ones who started it,” he reflected.
As Carteret Women’s Soccer looks toward its second season, the expectations are higher, the foundation is stronger, and the vision of competing for championships remains firmly in place.
For Carteret Community College, the inaugural season wasn’t simply about introducing a new sport. It was about creating opportunities, developing student-athletes, and building a program that will continue inspiring future generations of Kraken athletes.
The first chapter has been written. And for Carteret Women’s Soccer, the story is only beginning.
