ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The fifth-ranked Messiah University women's soccer team travels to St. Louis, Missouri for the Second Weekend of the NCAA Tournament. The Falcons take on the Maroons of the University of Chicago in the Sweet Sixteen on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 2:30 p.m. EST at Washington University in St. Louis. The Mules of Colby College and the Bears of WashU play in the other Sweet Sixteen matchup at 12:00 p.m. EST. The winners of the two games will play Sunday, Nov. 24 at 2:00 p.m. EST.
Check out the Second Weekend Preview below.
No. 5 Messiah University Falcons
How We Got Here
The fifth-ranked Falcons enter the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament with a 18-1-3 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 started the NCAA Tournament with a dominate 6-1 win over Gordon College. The Falcons scored three goals in the first 13 minute to set the tone for the rest of the game.
Kristina Akselsen and
Mia Libby led the Falcons with four points each. In the second round, the Falcons played a tough Case Western Reserve University team. After 88 minutes of scoreless soccer,
Hannah Adair scored the game-winner in the 89th minute to give the Falcons the 1-0 win and advanced Messiah to the Sweet Sixteen.
Players to Watch
#11
Brittany Laird – 17 goals, 34 points, 34 shots on goal, four game-winning goals
#6
Addi Martin – 11 goals, seven assists, 29 points, 35 shots on goal, four game-winning goals
#10
Hannah Adair – 12 goals, one assist, 25 points, 30 shots on goal
#18
Kristina Akselsen – seven goals, four assists, 18 points, 20 shots on goal
#15
Kierstyn Fogle – six goals, two assists, 14 points, 14 shots on goal
#12
Mia Libby – five goals, four assists, 14 points, 15 shots on goal
#13
Bella Touzeau – two goals, nine assists, 13 points, 15 shots on goal
#5
Julia Martin – two goals, eight assists, 12 points, 14 shots on goal
#0
Ava Wert – 20 games started, 20 saves, 0.45 goals-against average, .714 save percentage, seven shutouts
University of Chicago Maroons
How They Got Here
The Maroons enter the Second Weekend of the NCAA Tournament with a 12-6-2 overall record and a 2-4-1 record in UAA play. The Maroons finished their non-conference schedule with a 10-2-1 record, winning their five of their first six games. In one of the toughest conferences in the country the Maroons earned wins over No. 20 Brandeis University and No. 3 Carnegie Mellon. The Maroons capped off the season with a 1-1 draw against WashU, the top-ranked team in the country.
The Maroons opened the tournament with a commanding 4-0 win over Lawrence University. The Maroons scored three goals in the first half and then added another early in the second half to advance to the second round. The Maroons then played a tough test in No. 19 Calvin University. The Maroon got on the board first, but Calvin answered with a goal of their own in the 36th minute. The Maroon bounced back with two straight goals and defeated Calvin, 3-1, to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
Player to Watch
#25 Indira Naylor – 14 goals, two assists, 30 points, 29 shots on goal, three game-winning goals
#23 Mary Stuart Kerrigan – seven goals, two assists, 16 points, 20 shots on goal, two game-winning goals
#22 Avery Gallucci – seven goals, 14 points, 17 shots on goal
#2 Kamiryn Braxton Grimes – six goals, one assist, 13 points, 20 shots on goal
#20 Kaitlyn Gomez – five goals, two assists, 12 points, 13 shots on goal
#1 Sophie Pilarski – 16 games started, 39 saves, 1.66 goals-against average, .619 save percentage, two shutouts
History Against Messiah
The Falcons are 3-0 against the Maroons in program history. The Falcons last defeated UChicago, 1-0 in the 2016 National Semifinals.
No. 1 Washington University in St. Louis Bears
How They Got Here
WashU enters the Second Weekend of the NCAA Tournament with an 19-0-2 overall record on the season. The Bears cruised through the season earning 12 shutout wins during the 2024 regular season. In UAA play, the Bears went 6-0-1 and only allowed three goals against some of the toughest competition in conference play in the country. The Bears enter the weekend 10-0 on the season at Francis Olympic Field.
The Bears hosted the Opening Weekend of the NCAA Tournament and defeated DePauw University, 2-0, in the first round. The Bears took a lead in the 21st minute and then added on an insurance goal in the 71st minute to advance to the second round. The Bears then cruised to a 5-1 win over Simpson College to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. The Bears scored all five goals in the first half to earn the win.
Players to Watch
#9 Olivia Clemons – 19 goals, five assists, 43 points, 46 shots on goal, three game-winning goals
#28 Grace Ehlert – 13 goals, one assist, 27 points, 27 shots on goal, six game-winning goals
#2 Sophie Viscovich – five goals, seven assists, 17 points, 34 shots on goal
#30 Madi Foley – six goals, one assist, 13 points, 21 shots on goal
#11 Ella Koleno – four goals, five assists, 13 points, 14 shots on goal
#23 Meryl McKenna – five goals, three assists, 13 points, 16 shots on goal
#33 Sidney Conner – 19 games started, 34 saves, 0.42 goals-against average, .829 save percentage, seven shutouts
History Against Messiah
The Falcons and Bears have met five times in their program's history. The Falcons have a 1-1-3 record against WashU. The Falcons and Bears last met in last season's Final Four, with the Bears winning in penalty kicks. In the last four meetings between the two teams, the game has been decided by penalty kicks.
Colby College Mules
How They Got Here
The Mules enter the Second Weekend of the NCAA Tournament with a 13-4-3 overall record and a 4-4-2 record in NESCAC play. The Mules cruised through non-conference play with a 9-0-1 record. In one of the toughest conference schedules in the country, the Mules earned four wins over NESCAC opponents, including a 1-0 win over then No. 14 Bowdoin. The Mules finished the season 8-2-2 in road and neutral games.
The Mules traveled to MIT for the Opening Weekend of the NCAA Tournament. In the first round, the Mules defeated the Claremont Mudd-Scipps, 1-0. The Mules scored the lone goal in the 33rd minute and held on with three saves in the second half to advance to the second round. In the second round, the Mules matched up against No. 3 MIT. The Mules scored the first goal in the 43rd minute to take a 1-0 lead. The Mules added another in the 61st minute to upset MIT and advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
Players to Watch
#32 Abigail Jarvi – 11 goals, one assist, 23 points, 35 shots on goal, six game-winning goals
#4 Sophie DiGrande – six goals, four assists, 16 points, 16 shots on goal
#20 Catherine Watrous – seven goals, one assist, 15 points, 13 shots on goal
#24 Madison Genser – six goals, one assist, 13 points, 12 shots on goal
#19 Ella Caraluzzi – two goals, eight assists, 12 points, eight shots on goal
#30 MK Marshall - 18 games started, 77 saves, 0.87 goals-against average, .837 save percentage, five shutouts
History Against Messiah
The Falcons and Mules have never met in program history.
