| No. 2 NSCAA / No. 2 D3Soccer.com Messiah College Falcons |
| Location: Grantham, PA
Coach: Scott Frey (15th season, 317-17-16 at Messiah entering weekend)
2014 Record: 21-0-2, 7-0-1 Commonwealth Conference
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 15th
Last NCAA Appearance: 2013 Regional Semifinal, lost 1-0 (OT) to Ithaca
2014 NCAA First Round: 5-0 win over Brooklyn College
2014 NCAA Second Round: 5-1 win over Capital University |
Messiah as a Team in Top-40 National Statistics: The Falcons are 5th in GAA (.252) and points (246); 7th in assists (72) and goals (87); 8th in points per game (10.7); 9th in goals per game (3.78); 10th in assists per game (3.13). and 25th in save percentage (.870).
Messiah Players in Top-40 National Statistics: Nikki Elsaesser is 16th in goals (23), 20th in game-winning goals (6), 21st in goals per game (1.00), and 26th in points per game (2.43); Marisa Weaver is 20th in game-winning goals (6); Audra Larson is 5th in total keeper minutes (2075:49), 7th in GAA (.26), and 33rd in save percentage (.870).
How the Falcons got here: Messiah College entered the NCAA Tournament with an at-large bid from Commonwealth. The Falcons are unbeaten in 21 games thus far, with their two ties both coming to conference rival Stevenson. Both of those draws were 1-1, including the conference finale that saw the Mustangs earn the automatic qualifier (AQ) with a 4-3 shootout decision.
Despite seeing their seven-year run as conference champions come to an end, Messiah has advanced in the Tournament with plenty of talent on all areas of the field. The Falcons have scored 87 goals this season and allowed just six, with an astounding 72 assists on their tallies (82.8%).
Conference Offensive Player of the Year Nikki Elsaesser leads seven double-digit scorers, the top six of which are having career-best years in total points. Elsaesser (23g, 10a) and Marisa Weaver (15g, 10a) are the top two scorers, and they've combined for 12 game-winners. Kyele Bridel (7g, 8a), Erin Sollenberger (8g, 7a), Mackenzie Clapper (6g, 7a), and Holly Burgard (7g, 7a) round out the top scorers, and each contribute to the Falcons' fierce offensive attack.
Macaulay Soto (3g, 7a), the Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year, patrols as the center midfielder and plays a significant role in the Falcons' offensive and defensive prowess. Hannah Weyland and Ashley Locke provided veteran to a deep and strong back row that allows just 4.1 shots per game, while keeper Audra Larson has become one of the Falcons' greatest assets; Larson owns 15 shutouts in 23 starts, with a 0.26 goals against average (GAA), 40 saves, and an .870 save percentage.
The Falcons own a number of impressive wins, including 1-0 double-overtime decisions over both William Smith and Misericordia.
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| No. 15 NSCAA / NR D3Soccer.com Nazareth College Golden Flyers |
| Location: Rochester, NY
Coach: Gail Mann (22nd season, 268-121-45 at Nazareth entering weekend)
2014 Record: 15-3-4, 7-1-0 Empire 8 Athletic Conference
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 9th
Last NCAA Appearance: 2013 Second Round, lost 1-0 (OT) to Endicott
2014 NCAA First Round: 1-0 win over Worcester State
2014 NCAA Second Round: 2-2 (4-3 PK) over Amherst College |
Nazareth as a Team in Top-40 National Statistics: The Golden Flyers are 35th in save percentage (.861).
Nazareth Players in Top-40 National Statistics: Michaela Soules is 35th in assists (11); Allison Doubles is 17 in save percentage (.888) and 22nd in GAA (.547).
How the Golden Flyers got here: Nazareth qualified for the NCAA Tournament with a shootout decision over Ithaca College in the Empire 8 Championship. The Golden Flyers took that shootout 4-3 to avenge a regular-season loss (2-1) to the Bombers. The Golden Flyers are 8-1-3 in their last 11 games, with two of those draws in the postseason. They've outscored their opponents 46-16 this season, though 13 of their opponents' goals have come after the intermission.
Christine Belding leads six double-digit scorers with 10 goals and four assists. Michaela Soules has five goals and 11 assists, with Briana Vibbard (7g, 4a) close behind. Vibbard also has a team-leading four game-winners. Elizabeth Howell (4g, 4a), Danielle Wilkin (3g, 4a), and Courtney Malia (3g, 4a) round out the top scorers.
In the backfield Conference Defensive Player of the Year Tyler Carr leads a strong defense. Keeper Allison Doubles is proficient in goal, with 18 starts, a 0.55 GAA, and eight shutouts. She also has 79 saves and a .888 save percentage.
Belding's goal in the 62nd minute gave Nazareth a 1-0 win over Worcester State in NCAA First Round. In the Second Round Malia and Wilkin each scored to put Nazareth up 2-0 over Amherst before they went to PK's and won 4-3.
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| No. 1 NSCAA / No. 1 D3Soccer.com Lynchburg College Hornets |
| Location: Lynchburg, VA
Coach: Dr. Todd Olson (21st season, 361-82-39 with Lyncburg)
2014 Record: 24-0-0, 12-0 Old Dominion Athletic Conference
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 15th
Last NCAA Appearance: 2013 Second Round, 2-1 loss to Emory
2014 First Round: 4-0 win over Salem College
2014 Second Round: 4-1 win over Stevenson University |
Lynchburg as a Team in Top-40 National Statistics: The Hornets are 1st in GAA (.124) and save percentage (.930); 2nd in goals (117); 3rd in goals per game (4.88) and points (312); and 4th in assists (78) and points per game (13.0).
Lynchburg Players in Top-40 National Statistics: Angela Bosco is 6th in points (72), 8th in goals (29), 10th in assists (14) and points per game (3.13), and 24th in assists per game (.61); Dessi Dupuy is 4th in game-winning goals (8), 10th in goals (26), 12th in points (60), and 23rd in points per game (2.50); Tess Frelick is 1st in GAA (.110) and 2nd in save percentage (.935).
How the Hornets got here: Lynchburg has won all 24 of their game this season, many in dominating fashion. They've tallied five or more goals 11 times, and they've eight games by at least six scores. They've outscored opponents 117-3, and they're launching 28.8 shots per game against 4.1 shots from their opponents. From every statistical standpoint, the Hornets have been devastating to their opposition.
The Hornets entered the NCAA postseason with the AQ from the ODAC, and they've won each of their first two games in convincing fashion. Nine players have tallied double-digit points this season, with Angela Bosco's 72 points (29g, 14a) leading the way. Bosco has five game-winners, second on the team to Dessi Dupuy's eight winners. Dupuy is second on the team in points with 26 goals and 9 assists, and Bosco and Dupuy have combined for the second-most points by teammates this season with 132 (Thomas More's Huber and Flagge-Echols have 155 combined points).
Morgan Singer (18g, 5a) and Jade Woll (12g, 6a) each have at least 30 points this season, with five other players also with 10-plus points. ODAC Rookie of the Year Emily Maxwell anchors a defense that is first in the nation with a .124 GAA. In the net, keeper Tess Frelick has made all 24 starts and owns a 0.11 GAA with 29 saves, a .935 save percentage, and 9 shutouts.
The Hornets have played just three one-goal games this season, and they won all three: 2-1 over Johns Hopkins, and 1-0 over each Virginia Wesleyan and Washington & Lee.
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| No. 8 NSCAA / No. 8 D3Soccer.com Montclair State University Red Hawks |
| Location: Montclair, NJ
Coach: Patrick Naughter (5th season, 75-17-11 at MSU)
2014 Record: 19-1-2, 8-0-1 (New Jersey Athletic Conference)
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 5th
Last NCAA Appearance: 2013 Sweet 16, 2-1 loss to Trinity (TX)
2014 First Round: 1-0 win over Lesley College
2014 Second Round: 1-0 (2OT) win over Connecticut College |
Montclair as a Team in Top-40 National Statistics: The Red Hawks 3rd in GAA (.221); 4th in save percentage (.906); 25th in assists (48); 26th in points (172); 27th in goals (62); 32nd in assists per game (2.18); and 39th in points per game (7.82).
Montclair Players in Top-40 National Statistics: Kaila Fasano is 4th in game-winning goals (8); Gina Policastro is 3rd in GAA (.225), 6th in save percentage (.902), and 11th in total keeper minutes (2001:46).
How the Red Hawks got here: Montclair State qualified for the NCAA Tournament with a shootout decision over TCNJ in the NJAC. The goal the Red Hawks allowed in that 1-1 draw ended a four-game shutout streak; altogether the Red Hawks have 18 shutouts in 22 games this season, including each of their first two NCAA postseason games.
MSU has scored 62 goals this season against just five goals from their opponents. They're also allowing just 6.0 shots per game while taking 20.8 shots themselves. Kaila Fasano leads the team with 15 goals and four assists, with an impressive eight game-winners and .645 shot on goal percentage. Martina Landeka (7g, 6a) is the second of six double-digit scorers, and she also has three game-winners. Francesca Gibson (7g, 5a), Jennie Hornstra (8g, 2a), Melanie Greco (6g, 3a), and Tyler Madison (5g, 5a) round out the top scoring threats.
Melissa Koster (2g, 3a) roams as the NJAC Midfielder of the Year and leads both sides of the field. Keeper Gina Policastro has started all 22 games and carries an imposing 0.22 GAA, with 46 saves, a .902 save percentage, and 16 shutouts.
Fasano has scored both goals for the Red Hawks in their NCAA wins, including a goal in the 110th minute against Connecticut College. |
