| No. 1 Messiah College Falcons |
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Location: Grantham, PA
Head Coach: Brooke Good (5th season, 81-24 career record)
2016 Record: 18-1
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 30th appearance (16th straight)
Last NCAA Appearance: 2015 Third Round, lost to TCNJ 4-2
2016 NCAA First Round: Bye
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How they got here: Messiah College enters the NCAA tournament with an automatic qualifier (AQ) from the MAC Commonwealth. The Falcons claimed the AQ after rolling through the conference tournament, claiming the Championship with a 7-1 win over then-No. 16 Alvernia University on Saturday. Messiah is undefeated against NCAA Division III opponents this year, having won 18-straight games since a season-opening overtime defeat at the hands of Division II No. 2 Shippensburg University.
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With seven games against teams ranked in the NFHCA Top-20 this season, the Falcons played one of the toughest out-of-conference schedules in the country. Messiah withstood every Division III test, bringing an 18-1 record into the NCAA tournament. Of the teams in this year's tournament field, Messiah faced and defeated Ursinus (4-1), Salisbury (3-2), TCNJ (4-2), and Franklin & Marshall (3-2).
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Messiah's offensive attack has seen a surge in 2016 that ranks them at or very near the top in many categories among schools in Division III. The Falcons are first in goals per game (4.84), first in scoring average (4.82), second in assists per game (3.16), second in points per game (13.04), and first in scoring margin (4.14). That stellar scoring margin mark would not be possible without a fantastic defense, which ranks third in the nation in goals against average (.68) and fourth in shutouts (10).
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There are multiple players for Messiah that can score, including a trio of Falcons that have tallied at least 16 goals this season. 2015 NFHCA All-American Carissa Gehman leads the way with 24 goals, three assists, 51 points, and seven game-winners. Senior Moriah Pfautz (16g, 9a, 41p, 5gw) and junior Taylor Holt (16g, 3a, 35p, 1gw) have also experienced exceptional seasons on the offensive end. These three are not Messiah's only options, though, as 16 of the 23 field players on the Falcon roster have recorded a goal this year, including Logan Ryan (9) and Kristin Donohue (7).
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To go along with ranking fifth on the team in goals, Donohue is also second on the team in assists, dishing out 10 on the year. Midfield teammate Nicole Wilkerson leads the team with 13 assists, slotting her tied for sixth in the nation in Division III.
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The back line of Hannah Roland, Sara Brooks, and Shayna Landis has shut down opposing offenses to the tune of 0.68 goals scored per game and only 5.4 shots per game. Roland has also chipped in a team-leading three defensive saves.
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Shelby Landes has locked down the cage this year, recording 43 saves against 56 shots on goal for a .768 save percentage. She has compiled an impressive 18-1 mark in goal, including seven shutouts.
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| Keene State College Owls |
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Location: Keene, NH
Head Coach: Amy Watson (27th season, 396-174-11 career record)
2016 Record: 21-3
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 11th appearance (5th straight)
Last NCAA Appearance: 2015 Second Round, lost to Bowdoin 5-1
2016 NCAA First Round: 3-1 victory over SUNY Geneseo
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How they got here: As the top seed, Keene State rolled through the Little East Conference (LEC) tournament, defeating Plymouth State 4-2 and Southern Maine 5-0 to earn the LEC automatic qualifying bid. They were selected to host an NCAA First Round game against SUNY Geneseo, which they won by a score of 3-1. The Owls are 20-3, including a perfect 11-0 in conference play, and ride a 14-game win streak into this weekend's matchup.
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Much like Messiah, Keene State fields one of the top offenses in the country, slotting just behind the Falcons nationally in scoring average with a mark of 4.70. They are led by senior Sami Smith with 36 goals, 13 assists, and 85 points—scoring marks that lead not just NCAA Division III, but DI and DII as well.
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An impressive six other Owls have at least 20 points on the year: Erica Stauffer (18g, 6a, 42p), Jensyn Dandeneau (12g, 11a, 35p), Julia Babbitt (13g-6a-32p), Brittney Cardente (7g, 13a, 27p), Kayla Renaud (6g, 9a, 21p), and Kendal Brown (6g, 8a, 20p).
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On the defensive end, the Owls are anchored by Marita Brothers (eight defensive saves) and keeper Gwendolyn Thayer (1.25 goals against average, 90 saves, .783 save percentage, and seven shutouts).
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| No. 4 Middlebury College Panthers |
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Location: Middlebury, VT
Head Coach: Katharine DeLorenzo (16th season, 245-57 at Middlebury)
2016 Record: 14-4
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 17th appearance (14th straight)
Last NCAA Appearance: 2015 National Champions, 1-0 win over Bowdoin
2016 NCAA First Round: Bye
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How they got here: Last year's National Champion, Middlebury is a perennial contender in the postseason, having advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last 14 years. They began this season ranked at the top of the NFHCA coaches poll, but have accumulated four losses to cause them to drop to No. 4.
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However, all four of those shortcomings came against NFHCA top-11 teams: No. 10 Trinity, No. 11 Hamilton, and twice to No. 3 Tufts, once during the regular season and again in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) championship game. Those tough losses and wins over No. 13 Amherst, No. 17 Skidmore, No. 18 Williams, and two over No. 8 Bowdoin were enough to grant the Panthers an At-Large bid.
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Middlebury is led by junior Annie Leonard, who comes into tournament play with 20 goals, five assists, 45 points, and six game-winning goals. Her goals and points marks rank third individually in the extremely tough NESCAC. The Panthers bring a balanced offensive attack to the table, with three other players having at least six goals and 18 points on the year: Lauren Schweppe (11g, 5a, 27p), Grace Jennings (7g, 7a, 21p), and Molly Freeman (6g, 6a, 18p).
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The Panthers also share the ball well, as six players have at least five assists and assists have been recorded on 78% (42 of 54) of their goals this season.
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Goalkeeper Emily Miller (64 saves, .711 save percentage, six shutouts) anchors a strong defense that ranks third in the NESCAC for goals against average at 1.40.
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| No. 15 University of Rochester Yellowjackets |
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Location: Rochester, NY
Head Coach: Wendy Andreatta (10th season, 138-65 career record)
2016 Record: 18-4
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 3rd appearance (2nd straight)
Last NCAA Appearance: 2015 Elite 8, lost to Ursinus 5-0
2016 NCAA First Round: 2-0 victory over Shenandoah
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How they got here: Rochester managed to squeak into the NCAA Tournament as one of the five at-large invitations after falling to No. 11 Skidmore in the finals of the Liberty League conference tournament by a 2-1 score. Two wins over William Smith (receiving votes in NFHCA poll) and two close losses to the aforementioned Skidmore strengthened the Yellowjacket's schedule just enough for the selection committee to grant their second-straight NCAA berth. They defeated Shenandoah in the First Round on Wednesday by a score of 2-0.
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Rochester has four players with over 20 points this season, led by Callie Fisher (13g, 5a, 31p), Claire Dickerson (11g, 0a, 22p), and Maya Haigis (8g, 6a, 22p). Senior Sayaka Abe has recorded her 22 points the unconventional way, only notching two goals but ranking second in the nation in assists with 18.
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Alexis Wood (four defensive saves) leads a strong defensive squad that ranks 10th in Division III with a goals against average of .86.
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The Yellowjackets take a different approach to protecting the cage, as they have played two goalkeepers (one each half) in every game. Gabrielle Cantley (13 saves, .83 goals against average, .591 save percentage) is the starter, and Kiran Sundaram (25s, .94gaa, .714sp) closes out Rochester's contests.
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