Aussie-laden Johnson County came close in the NJCAA Division II Tournament, but if we are to have an Australian national champion in 2023, it will come in either the NCAA Division II or NAIA Tournament as a number of valiant campaigns came to an end. Many of those teams’ Australians are heavily involved as well, so there is still plenty to keep an eye on going forward even if Aussie involvement at the NCAA Division I level has come to an end.
NCAA Division I Tournament
Santa Clara (Holly Furphy)
Second Round: lost 2-0 to Penn State
Despite outshooting Penn State 13-5, Santa Clara found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreline as the Nittany Lions’ ruthlessness in front of goal paid dividends. Santa Clara put just four of their 13 shots on target, whilst all five of Penn State’s shots tested the goalkeeper, with two finding the back of the net. The opener came just three minutes into the contest, before Penn State doubled their advantage in the 21st minute, with all the scoring being done in the early portion of the game. Holly Furphy did not feature in the loss.
USC (Talia Grossman)
Second Round: lost 1-0 to BYU
Although this was a #1 seed v #8 seed matchup, USC played BYU incredibly close in their second-round contest. The Women of Troy outshot the Cougars 16-15, with BYU edging the shots on target 7-6. Each team also earned six corners as the teams were all but inseparable on the stat sheet. Unfortunately for USC though, they ended up on the wrong side of the stat that matters as Bella Folino’s 7th goal of the campaign in the 58th minute proved the difference between the two sides as the team from Los Angeles bowed out. Talia Grossman did not feature for USC in the defeat.
NCAA Division II Tournament
Catawba (Ashley Hughes)
First Round: defeated UNC Pembroke 3-0
Second Round: defeated North Georgia 2-1 AET (1-1 90’)
Ashley Hughes played the full game on both occasions as Catawba advanced to the round of 16, making four saves against UNC Pembroke and another single save in the overtime win against North Georgia.
Charleston (Kate Duffy)
Second Round: lost 3-1 to Gannon
Kate Duffy did not feature in Charleston’s loss to fellow Aussie-laden side Gannon.
Concord (Caitlin Webster)
First Round: lost 3-2 to Kutztown
Caitlin Webster started in Concord’s loss to Kutztown, playing 75 minutes.
Florida Tech (Ayana Aoyagi, Eve Tiktikakis)
First Round: defeated Rollins 3-0
Second Round: defeated Lee 2-1
Ayana Aoyagi played the full 90 minutes in both games this week as Florida Tech advanced to the round of sixteen, making two saves against Rollins and one save in the win over Lee. Eve Tiktikakis came off the bench in both games, playing 38 minutes against Rollins and 4 minutes against Lee.
Gannon (Holly Gray, Paige Taylor)
First Round: defeated Mercyhurst 1-0
Second Round: defeated Charleston 3-1
Paige Taylor started both games for Gannon as the Golden Knights advanced to the round of sixteen, finishing with six shots and one on target in 84 minutes against Mercyhurst before tallying another shot in 77 minutes against Charleston. Holly Gray did not feature in either game.
Jefferson (Olivia Riddel)
First Round: lost 1-0 to Molloy
Olivia Riddel played the full 90 minutes in Jefferson’s loss to Molloy, making one save.
Southern New Hampshire (Imogen Noon, Dakota Thyssen)
First Round: defeated Roberts Wesleyan 2-0
Second Round: lost 2-0 to Saint Rose
Both Imogen Noon and Dakota Thyssen started in both games for Southern New Hampshire. Noon tallied two shots with one on target and an assist in the win over Roberts Wesleyan before adding another shot on target in an hour of action against Saint Rose. Dakota Thyssen played 83 minutes against Robert Wesleyan and 80 minutes in the loss to Saint Rose.
NAIA Tournament
Cumberlands (KY) (Georgia Martell)
Second Round: defeated Northwestern Ohio 2-0
Georgia Martell made four saves in a complete game outing as Cumberlands advanced to the NAIA Tournament final site with a win over Northwestern Ohio.
Georgia Gwinnett (D’arne Boato)
First Round: lost 1-0 to Northwestern Ohio
D’arne Boato started in Georgia Gwinnett’s opening round defeat to Northwestern Ohio.
Keiser (FL) (Zara Board, Georgia Little)
First Round: defeated College of Idaho 1-0
Zara Board made two saves in a complete game performance against College of Idaho, whilst Georgia Little finished with two shots in 76 minutes of action as Keiser advanced to the final site of the NAIA Tournament.
Midland (NE) (Gabrielle McAlpine)
First Round: lost 1-0 to UC Merced
Gabrielle McAlpine, who is listed as a team manager this season, did not feature in Midland’s opening round defeat to UC Merced.
Xavier (LA) (Amelia Suma)
First Round: defeated Tennessee Wesleyan 3-2
Second Round: lost 2-0 to William Carey
Amelia Suma came off the bench in both games as Xavier’s impressive inaugural season came to an end, playing 10 minutes against Tennessee Wesleyan and 17 minutes in the loss to William Carey.
NJCAA Division I Tournament
Arizona Western (Riley McQueenie)
Semi-Final: lost 1-0 to Eastern Florida State
Riley McQueenie came off the bench in Arizona Western’s semi-final loss to Eastern Florida State, playing the final 22 minutes.
NJCAA Division II Tournament
Johnson County (Montana-Rose Currey, Sophia Abbott)
Semi-Final: defeated Phoenix 1-0
Final: lost 3-0 to Jones
Montana-Rose Currey started both games as Johnson County came agonisingly close to an NJCAA Division II Championship, falling in the championship game. Sophia Abbott came off the bench in the semi-final before being elevated to the starting lineup for the final.
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