| Messiah College Falcons (No. 10 NSCAA / No. 10 D3Soccer.com) |
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Location: Grantham, Pa.
Coach: Scott Frey (18th season, 376-22-23 at Messiah entering the weekend)
2017 Record: 14-2-3, 7-0-1 MAC Commonwealth
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 18th (2000—present)
Last NCAA Tournament Result: 2016 National Final, dropped 1-1 (2OT, 5-4 PK) decision to WashU (Mo.) |
How the Falcons got here: The Falcons, ranked No. 10 in the most recent USC Top 25 Poll, enter the Tournament with a 14-2-3 overall record, and they went 7-0-1 in the MAC Commonwealth regular-season. Messiah's selection comes by way of an at-large bid after they were upset in double-overtime (1-0) by Arcadia in the MAC Commonwealth Championship on Saturday. Prior to the loss in the conference final Messiah had gone unbeaten in 14 games (13-0-1) with 13 shutouts.
What to Know About the Falcons: Messiah leads the nation with a 0.151 goals against average thanks to allowing just three goals all season … the Falcons also hold a 0.906 save percentage as a team, good for fifth in Division III … keeper Lydia Ewing, the MAC Commonwealth Rookie of the Year, leads all Division III goalies with a 0.183 goals against average … Messiah's stingy defense is led by two-time MAC Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year DJ Cole, who shifted from the midfield to centerback this season … Cole, Lydia Eichorn, and Skylar Ulry start in front of Ewing and have helped hold opponents to just 4.4 shots per game … the Falcons have collected 16 shutouts thus far, including a stretch of 12-straight that was the third-longest streak in program history … Brooke Firestone (8g, 10a) and Megan Mansfield (8g, 5a) are each over 20 points, and three other Falcons have reached double-digit scoring … Firestone, Sunny Gelnovatch (5g, 5a), and Abby Monko (4g, 3a) have each scored multiple game-winners, and an impressive 10 total players have tallied a winner this season … including their last game, a 1-0 2OT loss to Arcadia, the Falcons have allowed no more than two shots on goal in 11-straight matches.
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| Westfield State University Owls |
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Location: Westfield, Mass.
Coach: Todd Ditmar (13th season, 130-78-19 at Westfield entering the weekend)
2017 Record: 11-5-3, 6-1-0 MASCAC
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 6th (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015)
Last NCAA Tournament Result: 2015 First Round, lost 3-0 to Williams
How the Owls got here: Westfield State (11-5-3) earned an automatic bid into the Tournament via a title win the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Owls defeated Worcester State 2-1, and the NCAA appearance is their sixth in program history, all of which have come in the past 10 seasons. The Owls have gone 8-1-1 in their past 10 games with a goal differential of 25-10.
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What to Know About the Owls: Westfield has scored 45 goals this season (No. 82 in all of Division III) but they fire at will to the tune of 22.37 shots per game and 11.47 shots on goal per game—both No. 19 in the nation … Bella Eduardo (14g, 6a) was named the MACSAC Player of the Year … she leads four double-digit scorers with 34 points, and she's scored six goals in her past five games … Eduardo is tied with Marissa McGue (5g, 4a) with four game-winners … Rene Hamel (2g, 10a) led the conference in assists and had multiple helpers in three different games this season … Owls' defense allowed 19 goals this season, and they've also allowed 9.5 shots per game to their opponents … Natalie Falcone (14 starts, 1147:37) and Leah Ciampa (five starts, 514:32) have collected most of the work in the goal, with Falcone starting both games in the MASCAC Tournament; Ciampa had started the four final regular-season contests … Lydia Kinsman (2g, 4a) was named the MACSAC Rookie of the Year, and leads the Owls from the backfield … the Owls have a 0.96 goals against average as a team.
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| Rowan University Profs (No. 25 NSCAA / No. 19 D3Soccer.com) |
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Location: Glassboro, N.J.
Coach: Scott Leacott (19th season, 265-73-29 at Rowan entering the weekend)
2017 Record: 12-2-3, 7-1-1 NJAC
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 13th (1999, 2005—2013, 2015, 2016
Last NCAA Tournament Result: 2016 Second Round, lost 3-2 to Christopher Newport
How the Profs got here: Rowan (12-2-3) earned an at-large bid from the New Jersey Athletic Conference after falling to Montclair State in the conference semifinals, 0-0 (2OT, 4-2 PK). This marks the 13th appearance for the Profs in the NCAA Tournament, including three-straight and 12 of the past 13 seasons. Prior to their draw in the conference semifinal Rowan went 12-1-1 in 14 games with 12 shutouts.
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What to Know About the Profs: Rowan is No. 7 in the nation with a 0.282 goals against average, and they're No. 6 with a 0.902 save percentage … keeper Shelby Money has been terrific once again for the Profs across 16 starts, and she holds a 0.31 goals against average (No. 9 in the nation) and a 0.889 save percentage (No. 14) … Money was All-NJAC for the second-straight season, and defensive mate Emily Daigle (NJAC Defensive Player of the Year) are the formidable leaders of the Profs' backline, which has allowed just five goals all season … Melissa Kelly (6g, 7a) is a three-time All-NJAC forward and leads the team with 19 points … Six players have scored in double-figures, including both Shannon Reardigan (6g, 3a) and Cathryn McCarry (6g, 2a) who tied for the team lead with four game-winners … the Profs have scored just 44 goals, but they are dynamic and balanced in their approach; prior to their draw with Montclair State, eight different players tallied in the team's previous four games … Rowan averaged 20.5 shots per game and allowed just 5.4 shots to opponents.
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| Scranton University Royals |
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Location: Scranton, Pa.
Coach: Colleen Pivirotto (10th season, 131-47-22 at Scranton entering the weekend)
2017 Record: 14-3-2, 7-0 Landmark
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 17th (1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1999, 2000—2004, 2006, 2010—2013, 2016
Last NCAA Tournament Result: 2016 First Round, dropped 1-1 (2OT, 4-3 PK) decision to Connecticut College
How the Royals got here: Scranton (14-3-2) earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Landmark Conference Championship, 2-0 over Susquehanna. The Roayls have gone 9-1 in their past 10 games with seven shutouts and a goal differential of 28-5. This marks the Royals' second-straight NCAA appearance and 17th in program history.
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| What to Know About the Royals: Scranton is making their sixth NCAA appearance in the past 10 seasons, and their doing so on the back of a balanced offensive and defensive effort … Scranton has scored 44 goals—including 25 in their past 10 games—and they're led by six double-digit scorers including Jamie Hreniuk (12g, 1a) and her 25 points … Erica Licari (6g, 4a) is second on the team in points (16) and leads in game-winners (3) while Hreniuk and Brittany Uricchio (3g, 4a) each have two winners apiece … the Royals average just 12.5 shots per game, and they allow 11.6 shots to opponents despite giving up just 13 total goals … Colleen Berry holds a 0.66 goals against average and 0.873 save percentage across 19 starts, and she's also recorded 12 shutouts. |
