Women's Soccer

Harrisburg and St. Mary's (Md.) to Enter NCAA Women's Soccer Championship

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - For the first time in league history, the United East Conference will have two teams participating in the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championships. 

League champion Penn State Harrisburg will play William Smith College in the opening round.  The Lions will travel to Geneva, New York and play in a four-team bracket with the host, William Smith College, Tufts University, and Rowan University.

St. Mary’s College of Maryland earned an at-large bid to the 2024 NCAA Championships and will play Vassar College in the opening round.  The Seahawks will travel to Newport News, Virginia and play in a four-team bracket with the host, Christopher Newport University, John Jay College, and Vassar College.

Find the full bracket here: 2024 NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
 

Schedule - William Smith College - Geneva, NY
- (Host) #11 William Smith College (12-3-4; 6-1-2 Liberty League) v. Penn State Harrisburg (10-5-5; 7-0-1 United East Conference) Time TBD

- #7 Tufts University (13-3-1; 7-2-1 NESCAC) v. (RV) Rowan University (13-2-2; 8-1 NJAC) Time TBD

This is the second NCAA Tournament appearance for Penn State Harrisburg.  In 2021, the Lions were defeated by McDaniel College, 2-0 after winning the United East Championship.  This year, Penn State Harrisburg went undefeated in United East conference play (7-0-1) with the lone tie to fellow NCAA Tournament participant, St. Mary’s College of Maryland.  During the United East Championships, the Lions defeated Bryn Athyn College (5-0), Penn State Abington (4-1), and St. Mary’s (Md.) (0-0, 4-3 PK’s).

Offensively, the Lions are led by Julia Hughes with 10 goals and 7 assists with Diana Pon contributing 9 goals and Ava Fox’s 6 assists. Defensively, Kylie Yap controls the backline for a team that allows 0.58 goals per game and only allowed one goal in league play.  Goalkeeper Sydney Mulka has a 0.664 Goals Against Average.

In the latest national poll, William Smith College is ranked #11 and earned the No. 2 seed in the Liberty League.  Though the Herons lost the Liberty League championship to Ithaca College, they were awarded hosting privileges for the first two rounds.  Ruth Hotaling leads the Herons with 19 points (5 goals, 9 assists) while Lindsay Ringbloom (13 points; 6 goals, 1 assist) and Marjorie Plants (11 points; 5 goals, 1 assist) each have double-digit points, respectively.  Goalkeeper Kirsten Nelson has a 0.64 Goals Against Average and has allowed 12 goals in 19 games played.

On the other side of the bracket see two other national-ranked programs in #7 Tufts University and Rowan University, who are currently receiving votes in the latest poll.  Tufts earned the No. 2 seed in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) but fell to #18 Amherst College in the semifinals.  The Jumbos were national semifinalists in 2023 and earned an at-large bid in 2024.  Rowan lost to Montclair State 2-1 in double overtime in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) semifinals but were rewarded with an at-large bid.  The Profs earned their 17th NCAA appearance in 2024.
 

Schedule - Christopher Newport University - Newport News, VA
- (Host) #2 Christopher Newport University (15-1-2; 0-0 C2C) v. John Jay College (10-5-1; 5-0 CUNYAC) - Time TBD

- (RV) Vassar College (11-3-5; 5-1-3 Liberty League) v. St. Mary’s College of Maryland (17-1-4; 7-0-1 United East Conference) - Time TBD
 
This is the first NCAA Tournament appearance for Head Coach Peter Krech as the Seahawks are making their second appearance in program history.  The 2008 team dropped a 3-0 decision to Emory University after winning a Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) championship. 

This season, St. Mary’s (Md.) went unbeaten in United East Conference play (7-0-1) with their tie coming against fellow NCAA Tournament participant, Penn State Harrisburg.  During the United East Championships, St. Mary’s (Md.) defeated Lancaster Bible College (2-1 OT) and Penn College (2-0), before falling 4-3 in penalty kicks to Penn State Harrisburg after tying the Lions 0-0 through their first meeting, regulation in the championship game, and two overtimes. 

Offensively, the Seahawks are led by a diverse attack with six individuals posting double-digit points totals.  Alyssa McLane and Megan Rusk booth have 18 points on the season with identical tallies of 8 goals and 2 assists. Mia McKenzie has 8 goals for 16 points, Gracie Tourangeau has 15 points on 6 goals and 3 assists, Makayla Marvray netted 5 goals and 3 assists for 15 points, and Gracie Duch has 5 goals and 2 assists.  Defensively, the collective is ranked 6th in the country for Goals Allowed (0.23 Goals Allowed) while not allowing a goal in league play.

Vassar College is receiving votes in the latest national poll after finishing third in the Liberty League regular season.  The Brewers lost in the Liberty League semifinals to #11 William Smith College but earned an at-large berth in this year’s NCAA Championship.  This season, Vassar allowed 0.84 goals per game after allowing 16 goals in 19 matches.  Alice Crowley has 12 goals and 3 assists for 27 points on the season while both Gianna Panarelli and Madison Bouggess each have 6 goals, respectively.

On the other side of the bracket, #2 Christopher Newport University saw it’s NCAA-record 84-game winning streak snapped in the Coast 2 Coast Conference (C2C) championship game against UC-Santa Cruz.  The 2021 national champions were awarded an at-large bid and hosting privileges for this weekend’s opening matches.  The Captains will take on John Jay College, who won the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) with a 5-0 victory over Lehman College
 

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The United East boasts 17 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Harrisburg, Rosemont College, Saint Elizabeth University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.