2025 Week 5 Wrap

Assists have been the order of the season in terms of tangible output among the Aussies in NCAA Division I in 2025, but Candice Kilderry became the second Aussie to score multiple goals as the Victorian found the back of the net against Oral Roberts for her second of the campaign. In the face of a barrage from the Golden Eagles, Kilderry’s goal put Little Rock up 1-0 at halftime despite her team being outshot 11-3. However, the sheer volume of shots from Oral Roberts finally delivered as three goals after halftime saw the home team come away with a 3-1 victory.

That wasn’t the only highight for an Aussie at Little Rock this weekend, though. Once again, the Trojans found themselves on the wrong end of an attacking onslaught, this time at home against against Tulsa. However, prior to that, Serenity Thake opened up the Golden Hurricane defence in the third minute, launching a counter that was finished by Maria Schuller to deliver Thake her first assist of the season on her own Senior Day. Little Rock would go 2-0 up seven minutes later before the game descended into chaos in the second half. Tulsa would score from the spot 9 minutes after halftime before tying the game at 2-2 just 52 seconds later. The teams then traded goals just after the 70 minute mark to see the game finish 3-3 despite Tulsa outshooting Little Rock 25-9.

Isabella Chidiac was tipped as someone who might be crucial to any success Denver would have this weekend, and the senior was ultimately one of the most important players in the Pioneers’ 2-1 win over nationally ranked Colorado State. The senior dropped two absolutely perfect corners on Emma Thielbahr’s head in the 24th and 65th minutes, with Thielbahr’s headers proving to be the Pioneers’ only shots on target for the game, but enough to secure the victory. Now sitting at 3-3-3 as they enter Summit League play, a win over the only perfect team in NCAA Division I was the perfect way for the Pioneers to round out non-conference play. Chidiac now has five assists in nine games this season, and is firmly establishing herself not only as a contender for Breakout Player of the Year, but also possibly the Rachael Doyle Medal.

On the subject of the Rachael Doyle Medal, reigning award winner Abbey Burns posed an attacking threat throughout the weekend and dished out two assists of her own as UAB emerged from the weekend with a pair of draws. The South Australian provided the ball for the opener just 59 seconds in as UAB took an early lead against Rice, before facilitating Caitlin Keeling on the hour mark to put the Blazers up 3-2 in a thriller. Unfortunately, Rice would find an equaliser eight minutes from time, but a draw to open conference play against a team tipped to finish third in the American isn’t the worst start to proceedings. Burns would also finish the game with a pair of shots on target, and followed that with three more attempts that tested the goalkeeper in a 0-0 draw with Samford to round out the weekend. Whilst Burns’ tangible output hasn’t quite been at the heady levels of 2024, the midfielder continues to remind everyone that she is one of the best Australians in NCAA Division I.

Kate Ryan has been known as a lynchpin of the Dartmouth defence in this breakout season, but this weekend saw the junior also turn provider at the attacking end. Although the Big Green fell to a 2-1 defeat to Colgate, Ryan played every minute and also teed up Stephanie Lathrop for her side’s only goal. Dartmouth did have their chances, but spurned attacking dominance that resulted in an 11-4 shots on target count in their favour. The attack failed to fire again in their second game of the week against Lilly Bailey and Hofstra, but Ryan and the defence kept a clean sheet to ensure Dartmouth would come away with a 0-0 draw. This weekend also spelled the end of Dartmouth’s exclusively non-conference slate, with Ivy League play to commence next week against Erin Gordon and Harvard. They may not be a team that will win many games 5-4, but one thing is certain: this Dartmouth defence will not be easy to break down in conference play.

Adelaide Wyrzynski returned to the starting lineup for the first time this season, and proved instrumental as Tarleton State needed a late equaliser despite outshooting Alcorn State 17-11. Having conceded the opener just after halftime, the Texans needed 83 minutes to find the back of the net, with Stevie Reynolds firing home after her initial shot off Wyrzynski’s cross was saved. Tarleton State now sit 5-2-2, with a game against NCAA Division III side Schreiner University their only remaining game prior to commencing WAC play against Utah Valley on September 25.

Chloe Tseros has been instrumental for Canisius throughout her freshman campaign, and nothing changed as the Golden Griffins faced Merrimack in their only game of the week. Canisius finished 4-2 winners, banging home two late goals after Merrimack had rallied from two goals down to tie the game with 20 minutes to play. Despite conceding two goals, Tseros finished with seven saves to improve her save percentage for the season to .705 to sit third amongst qualified Aussies. Tseros’ 5.17 saves per game also leave the freshman placed in the top 50 in the nation, although the Canisius brass would probably be happier if she wasn’t being tested quite so often. Nonetheless, the Golden Griffins have plenty of reason to be confident in the former Sydney Olympic shotstopper.

However, Tseros wasn’t the only goalkeeper in form this week. Chantelle Symes picked up Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week for her efforts in Detroit Mercy’s 4-0 win over Madonna. Symes’ four saves ensured the Titans would pick up a first clean sheet of the season and also broke a six-game losing streak as they look to find form heading into their first Horizon League game against Sophie Abbott and Cleveland State this week.

We also saw another Australian make their NCAA Division I debut this week as Jenny Hill made her first appearance for East Carolina. The midfielder and sister of former Grand Canyon star Sandra entered the game with just under 15 minutes remaining in the opening half, before returning for the last 25 minutes or so as the Pirates came away with a 2-0 victory over Tulsa in their conference opener.

Complete Results

Bellarmine (Teagan Douglas)

This week: defeated Morehead St. 2-1; defeated Kennesaw St. 1-0

Teagan Douglas did not feature for Bellarmine in either game this week.

Cal State Bakersfield (Georgia Martell)

This week: drew 0-0 with Idaho

Georgia Martell did not feature in Cal State Bakersfield’s draw with Idaho.

Canisius (Chloe Tseros)

This week: defeated Merrimack 4-2

Chloe Tseros played the full 90 minutes in Canisius’ win over Merrimack, making seven saves.

Central Michigan (Alyssa Di Campli)

This week: lost 1-0 to Wright St.; lost 1-0 to Ohio

Alyssa Di Campli started both games for Central Michigan this week, tallying two shots on target in 71 minutes against Wright State and playing 33 minutes in the loss to Ohio.

Charleston (Viktorija Calusic)

This week: defeated Gardner-Webb 5-0; defeated Presbyterian 2-0

Viktorija Calusic did not feature for Charleston in either game this week.

Charleston Southern (Eve Tiktikakis)

This week: defeated The Citadel 4-2

Eve Tiktikakis started in Charleston Southern’s win over Citadel, playing 53 minutes.

Chicago State (Jacquelline Kambere)

This week: drew 1-1 with Southern Ill.; match v Valparaiso cancelled

Jacquelline Kambere came off the bench to play 22 minutes in Chicago State’s draw with Southern Illinois.

Cleveland State (Sophie Abbott)

This week: defeated Morehead St. 3-0

Sophie Abbott did not feature in Cleveland State’s win over Morehead State.

Dartmouth (Kate Ryan)

This week: lost 2-1 to Colgate; drew 0-0 with Hofstra

Kate Ryan played every minute of the weekend for Dartmouth, tallying an assist in her team’s only goal against Colgate.

Denver (Isabella Chidiac)

This week: lost 2-0 to Colorado; defeated Colorado St. 2-1

Isabella Chidiac started both games for Denver this week, tallying a shot on target in an hour of action against Colorado before delivering assists on both goals in 87 minutes of playing time in the win over nationally ranked Colorado State.

Detroit Mercy (Chantelle Symes)

This week: defeated Madonna 8-0

Chantelle Symes played the full 90 minutes in Detroit Mercy’s win over Madonna, making four saves.

East Carolina (Jenny Hill)

This week: defeated Tulsa 2-0

Jenny Hill made her collegiate debut in East Carolina’s win over Tulsa, playing 37 minutes off the bench.

Fresno State (Shivani Battaglia)

This week: defeated Texas Southern 3-0; defeated A&M-Corpus Christi 4-0

Shivani Battaglia did not feature in Fresno State’s win over Texas Southern, but returned to play the first 45 minutes and make one save in the win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Gardner-Webb (Sarah Birchall)

This week: lost 5-0 to Col. of Charleston

Sarah Birchall started in Gardner-Webb’s loss to College of Charleston, playing 58 minutes.

George Mason (Libby Davy)

This week: defeated Loyola Maryland 1-0; drew 0-0 with American

Libby Davy played every minute for George Mason this weekend, making three saves against American after not being called into action against Loyola Maryland.

George Washington (Jasmine Black)

This week: defeated VMI 2-1; drew 1-1 with Loyola Maryland

Jasmine Black did not feature in George Washington’s win over VMI, but came off the bench to make her collegiate debut in the second half against Loyola Maryland, making one save in 45 minutes of action.

Hampton (Morgan Stanton)

This week: defeated South Carolina St. 3-1

Morgan Stanton came off the bench to play 45 minutes in Hampton’s win over South Carolina State, tallying two shots.

Harvard (Erin Gordon)

This week: defeated Boston U. 2-1; defeated New Hampshire 3-2

Erin Gordon came off the bench to play 75 minutes in both games this week, registering a shot in the win over New Hampshire.

Gordon: off bench, 75 min v BU

High Point (Montana-Rose Currey)

This week: lost 1-0 to West Ga.

Montana-Rose Currey did not feature in High Point’s loss to West Georgia.

Hofstra (Lilly Bailey)

This week: drew 1-1 with Brown; drew 0-0 with Dartmouth

Lilly Bailey played every minute for Hofstra this weekend, making five saves against Brown and two more in the draw with Dartmouth.

Incarnate Word (Montanna Mathews)

This week: No games.

Jacksonville State (Lara Aitken)

This week: defeated Alabama St. 6-0; defeated Mercer 2-0

Lara Aitken came off the bench for Jacksonville State in both games this week, playing 26 minutes in the win over Alabama State and 15 more as the Gamecocks defeated Mercer.

Little Rock (Claudia Hewitt, Candice Kilderry, Serenity Thake)

This week: lost 3-1 to Oral Roberts; drew 3-3 with Tulsa

Candice Kilderry started both games for Little Rock this week, scoring with her only shot in 85 minutes against Oral Roberts and playing 76 minutes in the draw with Tulsa. Serenity Thake also started both games, playing 52 minutes against Oral Roberts before notching an assist as well as a shot on target in 35 minutes against Tulsa. Claudia Hewitt did not feature against Oral Roberts but came off the bench to play 14 minutes against Tulsa.

Long Island (Izzy Stein)

This week: lost 1-0 to St. Bonaventure

Izzy Stein started in Long Island’s loss to St. Bonaventure, rattling off 3 shots in 82 minutes of playing time.

Loyola Maryland (Eva McGorian, Ava Blizzard)

This week: lost 1-0 to George Mason; drew 1-1 with George Washington

Ava Blizzard did not feature in Loyola Maryland’s loss to George Mason, but came off the bench in the draw with George Washington to play 14 minutes. Eva McGorian did not feature for the Greyhounds on either occasion this week.

Maine (Grace Wilson)

This week: lost 3-1 to UConn

Grace Wilson did not feature in Maine’s loss to UConn.

Providence (Meg Roden)

This week: drew 1-1 with Cornell

Meg Roden started in Providence’s draw with Cornell, tallying one shot in 63 minutes of action.

Purdue (Margaux Chauvet)

This week: defeated Wisconsin 2-1

Margaux Chauvet played the full 90 minutes as Purdue knocked off nationally ranked Wisconsin in their only game of the week.

Quinnipiac (Stella Tosoni)

This week: drew 2-2 with Niagara

Stella Tosoni did not feature in Quinnipiac’s draw with Niagara.

Rider (CJ Harris, Eloise Jones)

This week: defeated UAlbany 2-0

Eloise Jones did not feature in Rider’s win over Albany, whilst CJ Harris remains out through injury.

Saint Peter’s (Wilma Thodhlana)

This week: lost 3-2 to Mount St. Mary’s

Wilma Thodhlana started in Saint Peter’s loss to Mount St Mary’s, tallying one shot in 68 minutes of action.

Seton Hall (Grace Mitchell, Sarah Mitchell)

This week: drew 0-0 with Wagner; drew 1-1 with Lehigh

Sarah Mitchell started both games for Seton Hall this week, playing 81 minutes in the draw with Wagner and 75 minutes against Lehigh. Grace Mitchell did not feature against Wagner, but played the final minute of the opening half against Lehigh.

Siena (Iona Snape)

This week: drew 1-1 with Marist

Iona Snape started in Siena’s draw with Marist, notching one shot on target in 67 minutes of playing time.

Tarleton State (Charlie Shanahan, Zoe Daly, Adelaide Wyrzynski, Phoebe Riley)

This week: drew 1-1 with Alcorn

Adelaide Wyrzynski returned to the starting lineup for Tarleton State this week, tallying an assist and two shots with one on target in 44 minutes of action. Charlie Shanahan and Phoebe Riley came off the bench to play 25 and 14 minutes respectively, whilst Zoe Daly did not feature in the draw with Alcorn State.

UAB (Abbey Burns)

This week: drew 3-3 with Rice; drew 0-0 with Samford

Abbey Burns played every minute of the weekend for UAB, tallying two assists as well as three shots with two on target against Rice, and firing off another four shots with three on target in the draw with Samford.

Youngstown State (Aimee Benton)

This week: lost 4-0 to Duquesne

Aimee Benton did not feature in Youngstown State’s loss to Duquesne.

About Lachy 476 Articles
Founder of College Matildas. An Australian women's football fan who also happens to be a college sports fan. Often found at A-League Women or NPLW games.

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