The Big East delivered on the scoring front yet again, but it wasn’t all about Katie Godden this week as another player got their name on the scoresheet. Meanwhile, there were celebrations for both a freshman and a senior, and the Atlantic 10 tournament field will feature a pair of Aussies.
The goal scoring exploits of Katie Godden are well known at this point, and the Australian Under 23 representative continued her scoring form this week. Although the sophomore went goalless in DePaul’s draw with Renée Pountney and Creighton in their first game of the week, Godden returned with a vengeance against Villanova to bury a 52nd minute penalty. However, Villanova would slot home two penalties of their own as all three goals in the Wildcats’ 2-1 win would come from the spot. Godden has now scored in five of her last six games, with her season tally now standing at seven. One more in the season finale against St. John’s would move Godden into the all-time top 10 for most goals in a season by an Australian, tied with legends such as Lisa Casagrande, Jess Coates, and one of Harriet Withers’ three campaigns with eight or more goals.
Claire Farrington is known for her abilities at the back, but the former Brisbane Roar defender is starting to make a name for herself as a goal scoring threat at corners. Facing fellow Australians, Sarah and Grace Mitchell, as Butler took on Seton Hall, Farrington nodded home Katie Soderstrom’s corner off the crossbar to open the scoring on 15 minutes for her second goal of the campaign. However, although Butler outshot the Pirates 34-6, Seton Hall scored on two of their three shots on target. With the Bulldogs’ only other goal coming from the penalty spot, a 2-2 draw despite the lopsided shooting stats will no doubt rankle with Butler, even after earning a 2-2 draw against conference heavyweights Georgetown later in the week.
The battle involving Aussies in the Atlantic 10 has been one to follow throughout conference play, and this week saw the regular season wrap up as two teams featuring Aussies reached the conference tournament. Unfortunately, a loss to Saint Louis meant Greta Kraszula’s VCU left the door ajar for Dayton to swoop in and take second spot, which the Flyers promptly did, leaving the Rams in third place. Dayton will now face another team featuring an Aussie after Hannah Peric’s Massachusetts side finished in 7th place to earn a quarter-final berth despite a pair of losses this week. Unfortunately, there was no spot for Courtney Butlion and La Salle, who finished three points back from eighth-placed Fordham. The conference tournament will kick off on Saturday morning (AEDT), and a deep run from VCU will not only give them a shot at a title, but set themselves up for an at-large NCAA Tournament bid if they do come up short in the conference tournament.
Meanwhile, Long Island’s Isabella Stein notched a career milestone in the penultimate regular season game of her freshman campaign. Having bounced between cameos more likely to be counted in seconds than minutes and more extended playing time off the bench, the Manly United product earned her first start of the season in a 3-1 loss to Saint Francis of Pennsylvania. Stein played 38 minutes, her third-highest minute total of the season, and will hopefully remain in the lineup as the Sharks look to secure a conference tournament berth with victory over St. Francis Brooklyn in the regular season finale.
Eliza Ammendolia reminded everyone just how dangerous she can be with two encouraging performances, including one on her own Senior Night. Coming off the bench to play 67 minutes in a 2-1 win over UC Riverside, two of Ammendolia’s four shots were on target as the Macarthur Rams product terrorised the Highlanders’ defence. Returning to the starting lineup against Cal State Fullerton, Ammendolia almost notched a Goal of the Season contender, with a spectacular shot coming back off the crossbar. The senior would play 86 minutes and tally another four shots, but Cal State Fullerton emerged as 2-0 winners. Sitting in sixth in the Big West standings, a win over UC Irvine next weekend would secure a conference tournament berth for Hawai’i, but a loss would eliminate the Wahine from contention.
Complete Results
Alabama State (Madison Chambers, Grace Norbury)
This week: drew 0-0 with Alcorn State; defeated Mississippi Valley State 1-0
Grace Norbury started both games for Alabama State this week, registering a shot in a 90-minute performance against Alcorn State before rattling off four more shots with one on target in a 46-minute outing against Mississippi Valley State. Madison Chambers came off the bench on both occasions, tallying a shot in 48 minutes against Alcorn State and playing 26 minutes in the win over Mississippi Valley State.
Butler (Claire Farrington)
This week: drew 2-2 with Seton Hall; drew 2-2 with Georgetown
Claire Farrington played the full 90 minutes for Butler in both games this week, notching a goal in the draw with Seton Hall.
Coastal Carolina (Asha McClurg)
This week: drew 2-2 with Marshall; lost 2-0 to South Alabama
Asha McClurg did not feature for Coastal Carolina on either occasion this week.
Creighton (Renée Pountney)
This week: drew 1-1 with DePaul; lost 2-1 to Xavier
Renée Pountney did not feature in Creighton’s draw with DePaul, but came off the bench to play a short three-minute cameo against Xavier.
Denver (Isabella Chidiac)
This week: defeated Oral Roberts 5-1; defeated Kansas City 2-0
Isabella Chidiac did not feature for Denver in either game this week.
DePaul (Katie Godden)
This week: drew 1-1 with Creighton; lost 2-1 to Villanova
Katie Godden played the full 90 minutes on both occasions this week, tallying a shot against Creighton and firing home from the penalty spot in DePaul’s loss to Villanova.
Hawai’i (Eliza Ammendolia)
This week: defeated UC Riverside 2-1; lost 2-0 to Cal State Fullerton
Eliza Ammendolia came off the bench in Hawai’i’s win over UC Riverside, tallying 4 shots with two on target in 67 minutes. The midfielder then started against Cal State Fullerton, finishing with four shots including one on target in 86 minutes.
Kent State (Lua Suero)
This week: drew 0-0 with Ball State; drew 2-2 with Central Michigan
Lua Suero started both matches for Kent State this week, registering a shot in 68 minutes against Ball State and playing 64 minutes against Central Michigan.
La Salle (Courtney Butlion)
This week: drew 1-1 with George Mason; lost 1-0 to Davidson
Courtney Butlion came off the bench for La Salle in both games this week, playing 10 minutes against George Mason before registering a pair of shots with one on target in 15 minutes in the loss to Davidson.
Long Beach State (Aimee Medwin)
This week: drew 1-1 with Cal Poly; lost 2-1 to UC Santa Barbara
Aimee Medwin was almost ever-present for Long Beach State this week, playing the full 90 minutes against Cal Poly and 85 minutes in the loss to UC Santa Barbara.
Long Island (Isabella Stein)
This week: lost 3-1 to Saint Francis (PA)
Isabella Stein started for Long Island in their loss to Saint Francis, playing 38 minutes.
Louisiana (Emma Bates)
This week: defeated Troy 3-1; lost 3-1 to Appalachian State
Emma Bates did not feature for Louisiana on either occasion this week.
Louisiana Tech (Caitlin Le Roux)
This week: defeated UAB 2-1
Caitlin Le Roux did not feature in Louisiana Tech’s win over UAB.
Massachusetts (Hannah Peric)
This week: lost 2-1 to Loyola Chicago; lost 1-0 to Fordham
Hannah Peric did not feature for Massachusetts on either occasion this week.
Oral Roberts (Layla Lopez)
This week: lost 5-1 to Denver; lost 1-0 to Omaha
Layla Lopez did not feature in Oral Roberts’ loss to Denver, but came off the bench to play a single minute against Omaha.
Oregon (Lara Kirkby, Isabel Rolley)
This week: lost 1-0 to Stanford; drew 1-1 with California
Isabel Rolley played the full 90 minutes for Oregon on both occasions this week, tallying a shot in the draw with California. Lara Kirkby did not feature against Stanford, but came off the bench to play 11 minutes against California.
Rider (Eloise Jones)
This week: defeated Marist 1-0
Eloise Jones did not feature in Rider’s win over Marist.
Sam Houston State (Cameron Barreiro)
This week: No games.
San Francisco (Ashley Jordan)
This week: defeated Loyola Marymount 4-3
Ashley Jordan did not feature in San Francisco’s win over Loyola Marymount.
Santa Clara (Holly Furphy)
This week: defeated Portland 4-0
Holly Furphy did not feature in Santa Clara’s win over Portland.
Seton Hall (Grace Mitchell, Sarah Mitchell)
This week: drew 2-2 with Butler
Sarah Mitchell came off the bench to play 57 minutes in Seton Hall’s draw with Butler, but Grace Mitchell did not feature on this occasion.
Siena (Iona Snape)
This week: defeated Iona 2-0
Iona Snape started for Siena in their win over Iona, playing 42 minutes.
Southern Illinois (Chantelle Symes)
This week: drew 1-1 with Valparaiso; lost 1-0 to Illinois-Chicago
Chantelle Symes did not feature for Southern Illinois in either match this week.
St. Francis Brooklyn (Chloe Walker)
This week: lost 1-0 to Saint Francis (PA); lost 1-0 to Stonehill
Chloe Walker did not feature for St. Francis Brooklyn on either occasion this week.
Stanford (Amy Sayer)
This week: defeated Oregon 1-0; defeated Oregon State 3-0
Amy Sayer came off the bench in both games this week, playing 12 minutes against Oregon before registering three shots, all of which were on target, in 54 minutes against Oregon State.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Molly Arens)
This week: lost 2-1 to Northwestern State; lost 2-1 to Lamar
Molly Arens did not feature for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi this week as she continues her recovery from a season-ending injury.
UAB (Abbey Burns)
This week: lost 2-1 to Louisiana Tech
Abbey Burns started for UAB in their loss to Louisiana Tech, playing 61 minutes.
UMBC (Isobel Davy, Annaliese Grove)
This week: lost 2-0 to New Hampshire
Annie Grove played the full 90 minutes for UMBC in the Retrievers’ loss to New Hampshire, but Isobel Davy did not feature on this occasion.
UNC Asheville (Jasmine Barry)
This week: lost 3-2 to Campbell
Jasmine Barry came off the bench to play 64 minutes in UNC Asheville’s loss to Campbell.
USC (Talia Grossman)
This week: drew 0-0 with Utah; drew 1-1 with Colorado
Talia Grossman did not feature for USC on either occasion this week.
UTRGV (Dani Rutstein, Caitlin Webster)
This week: lost 2-0 to Stephen F. Austin
Caitlin Webster came off the bench to play 14 minutes in UTRGV’s loss to Stephen F. Austin, whilst Dani Rutstein did not feature this week.
VCU (Greta Kraszula)
This week: lost 1-0 to Saint Louis; drew 3-3 with George Mason
Greta Kraszula started both games this week, playing the full 90 minutes against Saint Louis before registering three shots with one on target in 78 minutes against George Mason.
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