GRANTHAM, Pa. – The fifth-ranked Messiah University women's soccer team hosts the opening weekend of the 2024 women's soccer NCAA Tournament. The Falcons are joined in a pod with Gordon College, Case Western Reserve University, and Skidmore College. The weekend opens with Messiah University taking on the Fighting Scots of Gordon College on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 11:00 a.m.
Check out the opening weekend preview below.
No. 5 Messiah University Falcons
How We Got Here
The fifth-ranked Falcons enter the NCAA Tournament with a 16-1-3 overall record with a 7-0 record in conference play. The Falcons opened the season with a 1-1-3 record, playing a highly competitive schedule to open the season. The Falcons then dominated for the rest of the season with 13-straight wins the cap off the regular season. During their 13-game winning streak the Falcons outscored their opponents 55-2. The Falcons won their sixth-straight MAC Commonwealth Championship, 4-0 over York to earn an automatic bid.
The Falcons enter the tournament tied for sixth in Division III with 74 goals scored. The Falcons offense forced the opponents' defenses in tough positions with 7.8 corners per game, which ranked ninth in the country. The Falcons defense also shined throughout the season shutting out opponents in 75 percent of their games this season.
Players to Watch
#11
Brittany Laird – 17 goals, 34 points, 34 shots on goal, four game-winning goals
#6
Addi Martin – 10 goals, six assists, 26 points, 34 shots on goal, four game-winning goals
#10
Hannah Adair – 11 goals, one assist, 23 points, 29 shots on goal
#18
Kristina Akselsen – six goals, two assists, 14 points, 15 shots on goal
#13
Bella Touzeau – two goals, eight assists, 12 points, 15 shots on goal
#15
Kierstyn Fogle – Five goals, two assists, 13 shots on goal
#12
Mia Libby – three goals, four assists, 10 points, 12 shots on goal
#5
Julia Martin – two goals, seven assists, 11 points, 13 shots on goal
#0
Ava Wert – 18 games started, 18 saves, .720 save percentage, six shutouts
Gordon College Fighting Scots
How They Got Here
The Gordon College Fighting Scot enter the tournament with a 10-5-5 overall record and a 5-1-3 record in CNE play. The Fighting Scots entered conference play with a 5-4-2 record. The Fighting Scots were 5-0-3 in conference play before falling to Hartford in the regular season finale. Gordon then defeated Roger Williams and University of New England to set up a rematch with Hartford in the CNE Championship game. The Fighting Scots though fell to Hartford, 3-0.
The Fighting Scots enter the opening weekend with 43 goals scored on the season. Gordon also added 30 assists. Gordon totaled 301 shots with 15.1 shots per game throughout the season. The Fighting Scots defense allowed 32 goals on the season, with 105 saves.
Players to Watch
#19 Eowyn Lapp – 21 goals, five assists, 47 points, 60 shots on goal, five game-winning goals
#25 Ava Forbes-Smith – nine goals, three assists, 21 points, 34 shots on goal
#29 Ada Forbes – six goals, five assists, 17 points, 17 shots on goal, four game-winning goals
#13 Kristi DiRico – two goals, seven assists, 11 points, 10 shots on goal
#0 Emily Bengtson – 17 games started, 92 saves, 1.65 goals-against average, .767 save percentage, two shutouts
History Against Messiah
The Falcons and Fighting Scots have never met.
Skidmore College Throughbreads
How They Got Here
The Skidmore College Thoroughbreds enter the NCAA Tournament with a 11-3-3 overall record and a 5-2-2- record in Liberty League play. The Thoroughbreds cruised through non-conference play with a 6-1-1 record. With a tougher Liberty League schedule, the Thoroughbreds finished the regular season strong with two straight wins to enter the conference tournament. After defeating RIT in the first round of the Liberty League Tournament, the Thoroughbreds fell to Ithaca College in the Liberty League Semifinals, 2-0.
The Thoroughbreds enter the opening weekend with 31 goals scored on the season. The Skidmore offense also totaled 27 assists. Skidmore shined on the defensive end allowing only 12 goals on the season. The Thoroughbreds posted nine shutouts on the season and allowed only three goals in their final five games.
Players to Watch
#8 Ella Stone – 13 goals, three assists, 29 points, 30 shots on goal, six game-winning goals
#20 Abby Lewis – six goals, three assists, 13 shots on goal, two game-winning goals
#13 Ellianna Caporusso – eight assists, eight shots on goal
#7 Kyra Russman-Araya – two goals, three assists, seven points, 11 shots on goal
#1 Avery Rogers – 15 games started, 63 saves, 0.69 goals-against average, .863 save percentage, eight shutouts
History Against Messiah
The Falcons and Thoroughbreds met in 2011 in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament as the only meeting between the two teams. Messiah defeated Skidmore 3-0 on their way to their fourth National Championship in program history.
Case Western Reserve University Spartans
How They Got Here
The Case Western Reserve University Spartans earned their fifth-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament after an 8-4-5 overall record and a 1-4-2 record in UAA play. The Spartans finished their non-conference schedule with a 7-0-3 record and have not lost a regular season non-conference game since 2018. In one of the toughest conferences in the country, the Spartans finished with a 1-4-2 record in UAA play. Seven of the eight teams in the UAA earned a bid into the NCAA Tournament.
The Spartans enter the opening weekend with 29 goals scored on the season, while totaling 16.6 shots per game. The Spartans offense also tallied 20 assists on the season. The Spartans defense allowed 20 goals, 14 of which were allowed in UAA matchups.
Players to Watch
#10 Alexis Sassower – six goals, four assists, 16 points, 19 shots on goal
#23 Molly Shamah – seven goals, one assist, 15 points, 15 shots on goal
#21 Sydney Schenk – five goals, one assist, 11 points, 18 shots on goal
#5 Ceci Dapino – three goals, two assists, eight points, 18 shots on goal
#0 Maggie Storti – 17 games started, 59 saves, 1.19 goals-against average, .747 save percentage, four shutouts
History Against Messiah
The Falcons and Spartans have never met.
