| Messiah College Falcons (No. 6 NSCAA / No. 5 D3Soccer.com) |
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Location: Grantham, PA
Coach: Scott Frey (17th season, 361-19-20 at Messiah entering the weekend)
2016 Record: 21-2-0, 8-0 MAC Commonwealth
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 17th (60-8-6 all-time record entering the weekend)
2016 NCAA First Round: 4-0 win over College of Staten Island
2016 NCAA Second Round: 2-0 win over Montclair State University
2016 NCAA Sectional Semifinal: 3-0 win over Middlebury College
2016 NCAA Sectional Final: 4-1 win over Williams College
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Messiah as a Team in Top-40 National Statistics: The Falcons are fourth in total assists (70), sixth in assists per game (3.04), total points (222), won-lost-tied percentage (0.913), eighth in total goals (76), ninth in points per game (9.65) and shutout percentage (0.739), 10th in GAA (0.344), 15th in scoring offense (3.30).
Messiah Players in Top-40 National Statistics: Marisa Weaver is tied for first in total goals (25), sixth in total points (57), eighth in game-winning goals (7), ninth in goals per game (1.13), 11th in shots on goal per game (3.04), 12th in points per game (2.57), and 25th in shots per game (5.00). Sara Yunez is eighth in goalie minutes played (2046:41) and 13th in GAA (0.352).
How the Falcons got here: Messiah College won the MAC Commonwealth Championship for both the second-straight season and the 15th time in 17 seasons to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. The start to the season was a little rocky as the Falcons gave up five goals and went 2-2 in their first four games, but since that point Messiah has won 19-straight games and earned 16 shutouts, including clean sheets against Staten Island, Montclair State, and Middlebury in the NCAA Tournament.
Ten days ago Messiah defeated No. 3 Williams College 4-1 in a game that was played in the snow on the Ephs' home turf. Of note, nine different players have already tallied for the Falcons across four NCAA matches.
This year marks the Falcons' 12th trip to the NCAA Final Four, including their second-straight. Prior to last season, Messiah was in the Final Four in both 2011 and 2012 when they won their fourth and fifth National Championships, respectively.
Scouting the Falcons: Messiah has been a handful in all areas of the field as they've posted 76 goals against just eight goals allowed, all while limiting opponents to just 4.5 shots per game. The back line of Sarah Strachan, Kayla Deckert, Summerly Merson, and Skylar Ulry have led the imposing defensive effort, with MAC Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year DJ Cole roaming the midfield. Those players and more have supported the stellar play of keeper Sara Yunez, who has started all 23 games and holds a 0.35 goals against average and a .833 save percentage. Notably, Yunez collected a season-high six saves in her last outing at Williams.
On the other side of the ball the Falcons are led by conference Offensive Player of the Year Marisa Weaver (25g, 7a) and her team-best seven game-winners. Seven other players have tallied double-digit points including conference Rookie of the Year Sunny Gelnovatch (8g, 6a), Olivia Snare (5g, 7a), and Erin Sollenberger (5g, 6a). Those players have also tallied at least six assists apiece, indicative of the Falcons' classic possession-oriented and combination style of play.
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| University of Chicago Maroon (No. 11 NSCAA / No. 14 D3Soccer.com) |
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Location: Chicago, IL
Coach: Amy Reifert (26th season, 331-127-47 at Chicago entering the weekend)
2016 Record: 18-3-1, 4-3 University Athletic Association
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 16th (23-13-5 all-time record entering the weekend)
2016 NCAA First Round: 6-0 win over Webster University
2016 NCAA Second Round: 2-0 win over Augsburg College
2016 NCAA Sectional Semifinal: 3-1 win over Thomas More College
2016 NCAA Sectional Final: 1-1 (2OT, 6-5 PK) decision over Pomona-Pitzer College
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Chicago as a Team in Top-40 National Statistics: The Maroon are ninth in save percentage (0.899), 11th in total assists (53), 14th GAA (0.402), 17th assists per game (2.41), 18th in won-lost-tied percentage (0.841), 19th shots per game (21.82), 21st in total points (177), 24th in shutout percentage (0.636), 31st in points per game (8.05) and total goals (62).
Chicago Players in Top-40 National Statistics: Katie Donovan is 17th in save percentage (0.892), 18th in GAA (0.427), 20th in goalie minutes played (1895:41). Mia Calamari is 19th in total assists (12) and 38th in assists per game (0.55).
How the Maroon got here: The Maroon entered the NCAA Tournament via an at-large selection from the University Athletic Association. As mentioned in the opener above, Chicago is one of the three UAA members to qualify for the Final Four this season.
This year marks Chicago's fourth-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, and 16th overall under head coach Amy Reifert. The Maroon outscored opponents 11-1 in the first three games of the NCAA postseason before earning a dramatic come-from-behind decision over No. 18 Pomona-Pitzer in the Sectional Final. In that game, a header by first-year forward Hanna Watkins tied the game in the 88th minute to force overtime and an eventual thrilling 6-5 penalty kick triumph.
This marks Chicago's fourth trip to the Final Four after appearances in 1996, 2003, and 2005.
Scouting the Maroon: Chicago has outscored opponents 62-9 thus far this season, and their physical play combined with their size makes them a handful for 90 minutes. The Maroon play in a 4-3-3 and they'll also look to play from the back to move possession through the midfield. Sophomore winger Jenna McKinney (14g, 8a) leads six double-digit scorers with 36 points, and her five game-winners is also best on the team. She's just 5'3" but was the UAA Most Valuable Player this season, and also the conference Rookie of the Year in 2015; McKinney wreaks havoc up front thanks in large part to the play of Madori Spiker (6g, 3a) at the target position. She's just fourth on the team in scoring herself, but she sets up everything offensively as McKinney and 5'10" forward Mia Calamari (8g, 12a) present a dynamic 1-2-3 in their attacking third.
Hanna Watkins (6g, 5a) has three goals and an assist in her past four games, and Adrianna Vera (5g, 1a) has tallied twice already in the NCAA postseason.
Defensive midfielder Kelsey Moore and goalie Katie Donovan lead a solid defensive effort that gave up multiple goals in a game just once (2-0 loss at Emory) while also producing 14 total shutouts.
History Against Messiah: Messiah and Chicago have met twice before, both times coming in the NCAA Tournament. The first match was in the 2005 National Semifinal, when a goal by Cali Pitchel in the 98th minute gave the Falcons a 2-1 overtime win en route to the program's first-ever National Championship one game later against TCNJ. The second meeting between Messiah and Chicago came in 2008 when the Falcons earned a 4-1 win in the Sectional Semifinal.
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| Washington University at St. Louis Bears (No. 8 NSCAA / No. 10 D3Soccer.com) |
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Location: St. Louis, MO
Coach: Jim Conlon (9th season, 150-35-15 at Washington-St. Louis entering the weekend)
2016 Record: 17-2-3, 5-1-1 University Athletic Association
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 16th (31-13-8 all-time record entering the weekend)
2016 NCAA First Round: 3-0 win over Knox College
2016 NCAA Second Round: 3-0 win over Luther College
2016 NCAA Sectional Semifinal: 0-0 (2 OT, 2-1 PK) decision over Hardin Simmons University
2016 NCAA Sectional Final: 1-0 win over Trinity University
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Washington-St. Louis as a Team in Top-40 National Statistics: The Bears are second in GAA (0.264) and shutout percentage (0.818), eighth in shots per game (22.91), 12th in save percentage (0.898), 18th in won-lost-tied percentage (0.841), and 35th in total assists (44).
Washington-St. Louis Players in Top-40 National Statistics: Lizzy Crist is second in GAA (0.213) and sixth in save percentage (0.917). Katie Chandler is 19th in game-winning goals (6).
How the Bears got here: Washington earned the Automatic Qualifier from the UAA thanks to a 5-1-1 regular-season record. This year marked their 11th conference championship, and this is also their 11th-straight trip the NCAA Tournament (16th overall).
The Bears are riding a 10-game shutout streak that includes four clean sheets in the NCAA postseason thus far. Washington is outscoring opponents 7-0 in four NCAA games, though they've tallied just a single goal in their last two matches—a 0-0 (PK) decision over Hardin-Simmons in the Sectional Semifinal, and a 1-0 win over Trinity in the Sectional Final.
The Bears finished as National Runner-Up in both 2009 and 2015.
Scouting the Bears: Washington is 5-0-1 against ranked teams this season, and they're a similar group to the squad Messiah fans probably remember from a year ago. Their big and physical play has helped them outscore opponents 56-6 thus far, and their 18 total shutouts is a program record.
Senior forward Katie Chandler (10g, 4a) leads seven double-digit scorers with 24 points and a team-best six game-winners. She has tallied twice already in the NCAA Tournament, and she has six goals in her past six outings. Taylor Cohen (5g, 5a) has tallied four times in the past seven games, and five other players have tallied between 10 and 12 points for the Bears.
Sisters Maggie and Lizzy Crist are at the center of the Bears' impressive defensive group: Sophomore Maggie roams the midfield and senior Lizzy Crist is a formidable netminder with a No. 2-ranked 0.21 goals against average and No. 6-ranked 0.917 save percentage.
History against Messiah: The Falcons have Bears have met twice, both times coming in the final weekend: in 2009 a goal by Amanda Naeher in the 16th minute propelled the Falcons to a 1-0 National Championship win over Washington; just last year, in 2015, the two teams played to a 1-1 draw before the Bears took a penalty kick decision over Messiah in the National Semifinal.
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| Brandeis University Judges (No. 23 NSCAA / No. 24 D3Soccer.com) |
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Location: Waltham, MA
Coach: Denise Dallamora (37th season, 343-266-68 at Brandeis entering the weekend)
2016 Record: 16-3-4, 2-3-2 University Athletic Association
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 6th (9-5-2 all-time record entering the weekend)
2016 NCAA First Round: 3-0 win over Virginia Wesleyan College
2016 NCAA Second Round: 1-1 (2OT, 4-2 PK) decision over College of New Jersey
2016 NCAA Sectional Semifinal: 1-0 win over McDaniel University
2016 NCAA Sectional Final: 4-3 (OT) win over William Smith College
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Brandeis as a team in Top-40 National Statistics: The Judges are 32nd in GAA (0.585) and 39th in won-lost-tied percentage (0.783).
Brandeis Players in Top-40 National Statistics: Alexis Grossman is fourth in goalie minutes played (2082:14) and 37th in GAA (0.605).
How the Judges got here: If there's a team at the Final Four that thinks they can win it all, it's certainly Brandeis. The Judges tempted fate and came on top in the most of dramatic ways on their run to the Final Four when they overcame a late 2-0 deficit to knock off No. 1 William Smith by a score of 4-3 in overtime. In that game Brandeis stunned William Smith with three goals in the final 15 minutes of regulation, and they eventually won in the extra session to qualify for their first-ever Final Four.
The Judges entered the NCAA Tournament via an at-large bid after going 2-3-2 in the UAA. They started the season with a 12-0-1 record, and two of their losses came to their conference rivals also competing this weekend, Chicago and Washington.
Prior to their eyebrow-raising upset of William Smith, Brandeis had outscored opponents 5-1 across three postseason games.
Scouting the Judges: Brandeis has scored the fewest (49) and allowed the most (14) goals of any participant in this year's Final Four. Nevertheless they boast six players with double-digit points led by senior forward Lea McDaniel (12g, 3a) who also leads the team with five game-winners. Junior Samantha Schwartz (11g, 3a) is just behind McDaniel, and she's tallied in each of the past four games overall.
Cidney Moscovitch (7g, 5a) is also near 20 points, with three others at either 12 or 13 points, respectively.
In goal for the Judges is senior Alexis Grossman. She's started all 23 games and holds a 0.61 goals against average with a .851 save percentage. Grossman owns 10 of the team's 13 shutouts, and she collected five saves against William Smith in her most recent outing.
Of note, head coach Denise Dallamora is the program's only-ever skipper, and she's in her 37th season.
History against Messiah: The Judges have never faced the Falcons in program history. |
