THREE CAA WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAMS KICK OFF NCAA TOURNAMENT ACTION
CAA champion Northeastern, James Madison and WIlliam & Mary open play in the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship on Friday night. It's the second year in a row that the CAA has placed three squads in the 64-team field and the league is hoping to replicate last season's success when all three advanced to the second round.
Northeatern (13-8-1) makes its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance against Ivy League champion Harvard at 7 p.m. The match will be played at nearby Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Northeastern was beaten 2-1 in overtime by Harvard earlier this season.
The Huskies are riding a season-best five-match winning streak that included last Sunday's 1-0 double overtime victory over Hofstra in the CAA championship game. Liza Rebello scored the game-winning goal for NU and freshman keeper Stephanie Gordon made four saves to record her seventh shutout of the season. Senior Jenna Lucchesi was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player and was joined on the all-tournament team by Gordon, Emilee Ellison and Tinna Nielsen. NU is led offensively by freshman forward Veronica Napoli, who was named the CAA Rookie of the Year after tallying 12 goals and 29 points this season. Rebello has scored seven goals, while freshman Gabbi Jatkola has six.
James Madison (12-6-2) makes its ninth trip to the NCAA Tournament in the past 14 years as it faces SEC foe Georgia at 8 p.m. at Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Dukes will try to rebound from a 2-1 setback to Northeastern last Friday in the CAA semifinals. JMU has played eight games against teams in the NCAA Tournament, and went 4-2-2 in those contests.
JMU is led offensively by junior forward Corky Julien, who was selected as the CAA Player of the Year after compiling 15 goals and 33 points this season. She has scored at least one goal in nine of her last 10 matches. Sophomore midfielder Teresa Rynier has contributed a league-best 13 assists and has 21 points. In net for the Dukes is Diane Wszalek, who has 1.16 GAA with 74 saves.
William & Mary (14-6-1) takes on South Carolina at 7:30 p.m. at Duke University in Durham, N.C. The Tribe, which captured their third straight CAA regular-season title, is making its 16th NCAA Tournament appearance in the last 17 years. W&M was beaten 3-2 by Hofstra in the CAA semifinals last week.
W&M is led by senior All-America forward Claire Zimmeck, who tops the team with 13 goals and 32 points. Forward Kellie Jenkins has tallied six goals and 13 points, while the W&M defense is led by All-America midfielder Dani Collins and CAA Co-Defensive Player of the Year Abby Lauer. Goalkeeper Meghan Walker owns a 1.12 GAA with 94 saves and five shutouts.