Only two teams received first place votes in the Pac-12 preseason coaches’ poll, and those teams just happen to be the two featuring Aussies – Beattie Goad’s Stanford outfit, and a UCLA side featuring Rachel Lowe and Teagan Micah. With conference play starting this week, both sides will be out to prove that they are deserving of those votes, but it won’t be easy, particularly for Stanford, who face USC in their only game of the weekend. USC sit just one spot below the second-placed Cardinal in the national poll, having compiled a 7-0-1 record to this point, including a win over Florida State on the same weekend that UCLA picked up a win over the Seminoles. With Stanford having just eked out wins in their last two matches, this game on the road will be a significant test, and it will also be interesting to see what kind of playing time Beattie Goad sees. The senior played just 15 minutes off the bench against Santa Clara last week, but prior to that had regularly played significant minutes and even started four games. The return of players like Sophia Smith from injury certainly makes competition for playing time far more intense, but Goad has certainly staked her case for more minutes than she received last time out.
Teagan Micah and
Rachel Lowe are flying high at the moment, with both players receiving Matildas
training camp call-ups for next week’s camp in Sydney. However, prior to that
camp they have one more game against California at home. The Golden Bears are
8-1 to this point, but almost all of their games have come against in-state
mid-majors, meaning that whilst they have played some solid opponents, they are
yet to face a true test outside of the Portland side that defeated them 2-0 in
their last start. However, it is highly unlikely that Teagan Micah will face
the same cruisy day that saw the senior not forced to make a save against
Hawaii, with the Golden Bears averaging over 5 shots on target per contest. It
may be in attack that UCLA need to be at their absolute best though, with Cal
sitting in the top 15 in the nation for fewest goals conceded, and that is
where Rachel Lowe comes in. Lowe tallied two shots on target and an assist in a
career-high 48 minutes against Hawaii, and if the freshman can reprise that
form before heading to national team camp, it will provide UCLA with an
additional strike weapon that perhaps was not expected to emerge until deeper
into the season.
Grand Canyon have
struggled in non-conference play so far this season with just one win, but the
Antelopes are starting to look better with Sandra Hill back in the lineup. With
just one game remaining before league play commences, this match against Omaha
looms as an opportunity to find some form against a team that has also secured
just one victory to this point. Tabbed to finish fifth in the WAC by the
league’s coaches, Grand Canyon are in the kind of position that will see them
require a good start to a conference slate that consists of just eight games,
as there won’t be many chances to make up ground if they are to qualify for the
six-team conference tournament. A little bit of confidence could go a long way
in helping the Antelopes do just that, and a win in this one could be just the
tonic.
Big 12 play kicks off
this weekend, with Demi Koulizakis and Texas Tech having posted the equal-best
non-conference record of the ten teams in the league. That makes their first-up
game against Oklahoma State especially tasty, as the Cowgirls are the team with
whom Texas Tech share that honour. In a league that is expected to be
incredibly tight, this game could prove decisive even at this early stage, but
it could also be a chance for Demi Koulizakis to make a significant impact
against a high-level opponent. The senior is one of a number of attackers
playing an integral rear gunner role behind the dominant Kirsten Davis, with
the former W-League player tallying a pair of goals and three assists to this
point. Davis can almost be guaranteed to bang home the opportunities when
presented them, so there will be no shock if Koulizakis tallies at least one
more assist this weekend.
Indianna Asimus’ goals
have kept Wyoming’s season steady so far, and the Cowgirls faithful will be
looking towards the sophomore to keep scoring as the team looks to defend its
Mountain West Conference regular season title. With this weekend’s second game coming
against a New Mexico side with whom Wyoming shared the title last season,
securing a good result here will be crucial to the team’s chances going forward,
and this is where Asimus could be integral to their fortunes. Each of the
sophomore’s goals have been crucial for the Cowgirls, with three of the
sophomore’s four tallies helping her team force overtime and the other proving
to be the game-winner in a 2-0 win over Southern Utah. Ex-teammate Caitlin
Pickett had a penchant for scoring goals at vital times for Wyoming, and it may
be the case that Asimus is taking over for the now-departed Victorian.
Full Schedule
Alabama State (Sophie Bui)
This week: @ Grambling
State – 9am, Saturday September 28; @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff – 4am, Monday
September 30
Chicago State (Sarah Clark)
This week: @ Western
Illinois – 4am, Monday September 30
East Tennessee State (D’arne Boato)
This week: v Western
Carolina – 9am, Saturday September 28
Fairleigh Dickinson (Sam Roff)
This week: v Merrimack
– 2am, Monday September 30
Grand Canyon (Sandra Hill)
This week: @ Omaha –
8:30am, Saturday September 28
Hofstra (Monique Iannella, Grace Watson Carr)
This week: v Drexel –
8am, Friday September 27; v Elon – 2am, Monday September 30
Illinois (Ashleigh Lefevre)
This week: @ Iowa –
11am, Friday September 27; @ Nebraska – 4am, Monday September 30
La Salle (Claudia Jenkins, Alyssa Van Heurck)
This week: @ Richmond
– 6am, Friday September 27; v Duquesne – 3am, Monday September 30
LSU (Caitlin Cantrill)
This week: v Georgia –
9am, Friday September 27; v Texas A&M – 4am, Monday September 30
Marshall (Laura Farrelly)
This week: v UTEP –
9am, Friday September 27; @ Florida International – 3am, Monday September 30
Mississippi (Aimee Medwin)
This week: @
Mississippi State – 9am, Friday September 27; v Auburn – 5am, Monday September
30
Nicholls State (Tessa Calabria, Kristy Helmers,
Shauni Reid)
This week: v Abilene
Christian – 7am, Saturday September 28; v Incarnate Word – 4am, Monday
September 30
North Dakota State (Eden Taylor-Wineera)
This week: @ Utah
Valley – 9am, Sunday September 29
Old Dominion (Gaby Bentley)
This week: v Louisiana
Tech – 7:30am, Saturday September 28
Rhode Island (Teresa Morrissey)
This week: @ Dayton –
9:30am, Friday September 27; v George Washington – 3am, Monday September 30
Southeast Missouri State (Siena Senatore)
This week: @ Austin
Peay – 10am, Saturday September 28; @ Murray State – 4am, Monday September 30
Stanford (Beattie Goad)
This week: @ USC –
6am, Sunday September 29
Texas Tech (Demi Koulizakis)
This week: v Oklahoma
State – 10am, Friday September 27; v Oklahoma – 4am, Monday September 30
UCLA (Rachel Lowe, Teagan Micah)
This week: v
California – 12pm, Saturday September 28
UMBC (Abi Jordan, Teal Kilbride)
This week: v Albany –
4am, Monday September 30
Western Carolina (Kate Swartwout)
This week: v East
Tennessee State – 9am, Saturday September 28
Wyoming (Indianna Asimus)
This week: v San Diego
State – 8am, Saturday September 28; v New Mexico – 5am, Monday September 30
Beattie Goad and Stanford will be looking for a more successful week after dropping a game to Pepperdine last week, whilst UCLA and Hawaii bring together no less than five Aussies, including a trio of W-League teammates.
(Image Credit: Michael Rincon)
Stanford had what could only be described as an underwhelming week last week in falling to a loss to Pepperdine and defeating UC Santa Barbara 1-0 with a late winner, and things don’t stand to get any easier this week as the Cardinal take on a Santa Clara side that has already knocked off the Aussie-laden UCLA this season. The Cardinal were perhaps guilty of trying to walk the ball in on a few occasions against teams that stacked the defensive line, but Beattie Goad, among others, came up with some moments that could have ended in goals, including one scintillating cross from the Aussie senior that was headed onto the crossbar against Pepperdine. Stanford may actually benefit from playing a team like Santa Clara, who will be far more attack-minded than either of last week’s opponents, potentially opening up the pitch for the Cardinal attack, with Beattie Goad hopefully one of the beneficiaries as the senior looks to continue an outstanding senior season.
Whilst Stanford are
playing a side that has already beaten UCLA, the Bruins themselves will travel
to Hawaii face a Pepperdine side that upset Stanford just a week ago. Prior to
that result, this contest would have appeared to be a breeze for the Bruins,
but the Waves changed that line of thinking with their win over Stanford. UCLA
will still come in as favourites, particularly having knocked off defending
national champions Florida State and nationally ranked Wisconsin already this
season, and with Teagan Micah having already picked up four clean sheets this
year, sneaking a one-goal victory will be an incredibly difficult task for the
Waves. Rachel Lowe also returned to the UCLA rotation last week, and will
surely be hoping to see extended minutes as the Bruins attempt to put
Pepperdine to the sword.
The Bruins will then
face host side Hawaii in a game featuring no less than five Australians across
the playing and coaching staff of both sides. Hawaii midfielder Eliza
Ammendolia was a teammate of both Teagan Micah and Rachel Lowe at Western
Sydney Wanderers, and with Kiri Dale also on the Rainbow Wahine roster and
former Washington State and Matildas defender Rachael Doyle on the Hawaii
coaching staff, there will be plenty of reasons for Aussie fans to catch Monday
morning’s game.
Ashleigh Lefevre has
built on last season’s performances to emerge as an integral part of Illinois’
starting lineup in 2019, and with the Illini kicking off conference play this
week against in-state rivals Northwestern, the sophomore finds herself tasked
with helping her team get off to a good start against a team picked to finish
just one spot below them in the Big Ten. This really is the kind of game
Illinois need to win if they are to atone for last year’s controversial
omission from the NCAA Tournament, with a middling conference schedule in 2018
perhaps the team’s downfall. However, with a 6-1 record to this point, Illinois
are looking in good form, as is Lefevre.
Sandra Hill had seen
only limited minutes coming into last week’s pair of games, but the Grand
Canyon fullback gained her first start of the season against North Dakota, and
played 185 of 200 minutes across two games to re-establish herself as a member
of the Antelopes’ lineup. This week sees Grand Canyon celebrate Senior Day
against Cal State Northridge, and whilst Hill may not be a senior, both she and
the remainder of the Antelopes lineup will be hoping to turn around their form
to celebrate the occasion with the team’s second win of the season. It won’t be
easy though, particularly against a Cal State Northridge side that has posted
five wins in their eight games to this point. But with Hill back to shore up
the side, things may just be turning around for Grand Canyon as they prepare to
move into conference play.
Full Schedule
Alabama State (Sophie Bui)
This week: v North
Alabama – 9am, Saturday September 21; @ Mercer – 4am, Monday September 23
Chicago State (Sarah Clark)
This week: @ Oral
Roberts – 10am, Saturday September 21; @ Tulsa – 5am, Monday September 23
East Tennessee State (D’arne Boato)
This week: v Hampton –
7am, Thursday September 19
Fairleigh Dickinson (Sam Roff)
This week: @ Long
Island – 6am, Thursday September 19; @ West Virginia – 9am, Saturday September
21
Grand Canyon (Sandra Hill)
This week: v CSU
Northridge – 6am, Monday September 23
Hawaii (Eliza Ammendolia, Kiri Dale)
This week: v
Washington State – 3pm, Friday September 20; v UCLA – 11:30am, Monday September
23
Hofstra (Monique Iannella, Grace Watson Carr)
This week: @ Penn – 8am,
Saturday September 21
Illinois (Ashleigh Lefevre)
This week: v
Northwestern – 10am, Saturday September 21
La Salle (Claudia Jenkins, Alyssa Van Heurck)
This week: v George
Washington – 3am, Monday September 23
LSU (Caitlin Cantrill)
This week: v Florida –
10am, Friday September 20; v James Madison – 4am, Monday September 23
Marshall (Laura Farrelly)
This week: @ Florida
Atlantic – 9am, Friday September 20; @ Florida Gulf Coast – 3am, Monday
September 23
Mississippi (Aimee Medwin)
This week: v Missouri
– 10am, Saturday September 21
Nicholls State (Tessa Calabria, Kristy Helmers,
Shauni Reid)
This week: @ Lamar –
10am, Saturday September 21
North Dakota State (Eden Taylor-Wineera)
This week: @ Eastern
Washington – 9am, Saturday September 21
Old Dominion (Gaby Bentley)
This week: @ North
Texas – 10am, Saturday September 21
Rhode Island (Teresa Morrissey)
This week: @ Dartmouth
– 9am, Friday September 20; v Saint Louis – 3am, Monday September 23
Southeast Missouri State (Siena Senatore)
This week: v Belmont –
9:30am, Saturday September 21; v Eastern Illinois – 5am, Monday September 23
Stanford (Beattie Goad)
This week: @ Santa
Clara – 12pm, Monday September 23
Texas Tech (Demi Koulizakis)
This week: @ South
Florida – 9am, Sunday September 22
UCLA (Rachel Lowe, Teagan Micah)
This week: v
Pepperdine – 12:30pm, Friday September 20; @ Hawaii – 11:30am, Monday September
23
UMBC (Abi Jordan, Teal Kilbride)
This week: v George
Washington – 9am, Friday September 20; v New Hampshire – 4am, Monday September
23
Western Carolina (Kate Swartwout)
This week: v UNC
Asheville – 5:30am, Thursday September 19; v North Florida – 3am, Monday
September 23
Wyoming (Indianna Asimus)
This week: v South
Dakota – 11am, Friday September 20
Eight Australian defenders will take to the pitch this season, with a number of intriguing storylines emerging. The return of Siena Senatore after two years away is certainly one to follow, whilst freshman duo Abi Jordan and Teal Kilbride could form a centre-back pairing at UMBC from day one.
(Featured Image Credit: Michael Rincon)
Victoria Franklin (Freshman, SMU, Brisbane)
Franklin may be yet to lace up the boots
for a competitive college soccer fixture, but the freshman has already tasted
collegiate competition on the water as part of Southern Methodist’s rowing team
which finished second in the AAC championships earlier this year. By far the
tallest defender on the Mustangs roster, Franklin’s height will bring an aerial
presence to an SMU team that had little trouble banging in the goals, averaging
two per game, but had the tendency to ship multiple goals, finishing the season
with five clean sheets but giving up more than one goal six times in 2018. That
time with the rowing team will also have helped Franklin learn how to juggle
study and athletics, giving the Queenslander a leg-up over most freshmen, who
will come into their first season with little to no time to adjust to the
machinations of the life of a student-athlete.
Sandra Hill (Junior, Grand Canyon, Canberra)
A regular at fullback for Grand Canyon, Hill has compiled not only 29 appearances for Grand Canyon over the last two seasons, but also a handful of outings with the Cambodian national team, including one against the Young Matildas in the 2018 AFF Women’s Championship. Adept at getting forward from her wide position in defence, Hill was rewarded with the first goal of her college career in Grand Canyon’s WAC Tournament loss to Utah Valley last season, rattling home a sublime strike from just outside the area. The Antelopes are yet to secure a winning season since their move to NCAA Division I in 2013, and Hill is now one of the senior players on a team looking to fill the gaps left by four starters who graduated after the 2018 season. The fullback will no doubt be looked to as one of the leaders, particularly in the defensive line after the loss of a starting defender and goalkeeper following last year’s campaign.
GOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!! SANDRA HILL NETS THE FIRST GOAL OF HER CAREER TO PUT GCU ON THE BOARD! pic.twitter.com/5AxW44pepw
If a teenager can also be a veteran, then that is a perfect description for Jordan, who has already racked up 50 NPLNSW appearances for Illawarra Stingrays’ first team prior to her move to UMBC. A championship winner at both NPLNSW and Futsal Premier League 2 level, Jordan has also represented both state and country at schoolgirls level, and heads to Baltimore with the kind of pedigree that could see her slot straight into the starting lineup from day one. Having finished 2-15 last season, the Retrievers do need to improve in all areas, but shoring up the defence looks to be the main priority at this point, and Jordan appears well-placed to be a major part of that rebuild as Australian head coach Vanessa Mann dips into her homeland’s stocks to bolster her roster.
“I selected UMBC because of the welcoming staff, great facilities and high education standard. I also liked the idea of attending a slightly smaller university which is more close knit.”
The second of two Australians to sign for countrywoman Vanessa Mann at UMBC, Kilbride will be hoping to step in and form a new centre back pairing with fellow freshman Abi Jordan as the Retrievers look to shore up a defence that leaked the best part of three goals per game in 2018. Already a teammate of Jordan’s with the Australian Schoolgirls team that toured the United States in 2018, Kilbride is a real chance of playing alongside her fellow countrywoman from the outset, particularly given the lack of experienced defenders on the Retrievers’ roster and the team’s leakiness at the back in 2018. The UMBC attack will need to vastly improve last season’s output of 0.88 goals per game if the team is to make a significant improvement on last season’s record of 2-15, but building out from the back with an improved defence can only serve to help the team going forward, both figuratively and literally.
“I chose UMBC because of the exceptional staff, facilities and high academic standards.”
The most credentialed member of last year’s
freshman class, Lefevre came in with Young Matildas experience under her belt,
and managed to compile 15 appearances off the bench for Illinois last season,
most of which came as cameos of 10-20 minutes. The Illinois defence this year
returns three seniors but no juniors, meaning that Lefevre will be among the
most experienced players in the Illini backline in 2020. This makes 2019 a year
for Lefevre to turn those brief cameos into extended stints or even starts, and
consolidate her position in the rotation. With nine defenders in the squad,
minutes won’t just be handed to the sophomore, but given that Lefevre made 15
appearances in 2018, the Illinois coaching staff do appear to see the fullback
as a member of the rotation going forward.
Sam Roff (Senior, Fairleigh Dickinson, Canberra)
A permanent fixture in the All-Northeast Conference selections during her time at Fairleigh Dickinson, Sam Roff has but one thing to achieve in her final season with the Knights: a conference championship and the NCAA Tournament berth that comes with it. Whilst Roff may not be the kind of defender that gets forward to put up assist and scoring numbers, the fact that Fairleigh Dickinson are yet to concede more than nine goals in their eight conference games in a season during her time with the team speaks volumes about the senior’s defensive ability, and the Knights will once again be leaning on their captain to lead the defence. Whether that translates into silverware remains to be seen, but in Roff the Knights have one player that they know will bring it each and every night.
Siena Senatore (Senior, Southeast Missouri State, Canberra)
Senatore played 29 games across two seasons
for Southeast Missouri State in 2015 and 2016, but since that time, the
Redhawks defence has been deprived of their rock at the back from Canberra. Whilst
the Southeast Missouri State side has featured a solid defence throughout the
last few years, there is no doubting that Senatore’s presence made them even
better, with the major question now surrounding whether the redshirt senior can
return to the form that she showed prior to her injury problems. If she can,
and the Redhawks’ attack can find a few more goals after a down year in 2018, it
could spell a remarkable turnaround for a team that had won at least eight
games in each of the last five seasons before finishing 4-8-5 in 2018.
Kate Swartwout (Senior, Western Carolina, Gold Coast)
A rock at the back when employed in defence
for Western Carolina, Swartwout is able to fill a number of positions and has
done so with aplomb in her three seasons in Cullowhee. Born in Australia but
raised just a two-hour drive from Western Carolina’s campus, Swartwout is in
the unique position of being the only Australian currently in Division I to
have also played her junior football in the US. Although the Catamounts are yet
to win more than nine games in a season in Swartwout’s time with the team, the
senior has been part of a defence that has improved over the last couple of
seasons, and now features a number of upperclassmen that can set the platform
for a more successful 2019 campaign. Whether Swartwout slots into the defence
or higher up the pitch remains to be seen, but with a skillset that belies her imposing
physical presence, the senior is set to have another impactful year in her
final college season.
(Featured Image Credit: University of Wyoming Media Relations)
As was the case in 2017, we saw 30 Australians take to the pitch in NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer this season. Although the season didn’t end with a national champion for the first time in three years, there was still no shortage of players enjoying outstanding campaigns in a thoroughly entertaining 2018, with both familiar faces and new stars putting on a show.
(33 Australians were on rosters at the end of the season. However, Caitlin Cantrill, Laura Farrelly, and Grace Watson-Carr did not feature this season and as such are not featured below.)
Indianna Asimus (Wyoming)
Team Record: 12-4-4 (Mountain West Conference Semi-Finals) Stats: 20 games, 9 starts, 0 goals, 0 assists
Indianna Asimus enjoyed a solid first college season. (Photo Credit: University of Wyoming Media Relations)
Indianna Asimus may have been the lesser used of the four Australians on the Wyoming roster, but nonetheless the freshman had enough of an impact for the Cowgirls to suggest that her playing time will increase going forward. Asimus started each of the final five games of the season, and although the freshman didn’t manage a goal, she did rattle off seven shots in the final two games. That alone is evidence in itself that Asimus found herself in good positions, which will serve her well over the next three seasons, particularly as she looks to snag one of the positions left by the six graduating seniors from the 2017 team.
Gaby Bentley (Old Dominion)
Team Record: 8-7-4 (Conference USA Quarter-Finals) Stats: 14 games, 2 goals, 0 assists
An impact player off the bench for much of the season, Gaby Bentley may not have started every game but gave just as much as many of the starters for an Old Dominion side that once again found itself in the Conference USA Tournament before being knocked out in the quarter-finals for the third consecutive season. Although her general play was solid throughout the season, Bentley also doubled her scoring output from last season, tallying two goals for the season. With a number of midfielders graduating after the 2018 season, Bentley may just find herself in the starting lineup on a more regular basis in her senior year.
Having spent her first season at William & Mary recovering from injury, new issues plagued Lorena Bugden in her sophomore year with the Tribe, culminating in just five appearances in a tough season on both a personal level and for the team. Under a new coach for the 2018 campaign, Bugden earned a start in one of her appearances, but the injury problems curtailed what could have been a promising season that may have set the sophomore up for the next couple of seasons at William & Mary. As it is, Bugden will have to hit the ground running in 2019 in order to put together the kind of season she is capable of producing.
Freshman Jodie Burchell took a while to establish herself in the Towson side, but once she did, she latched onto her spot and eventually entrenched herself as a member of the starting lineup. Despite playing just 14 games, all of Burchell’s seven starts came in the last eight games of the season. Although the freshman came up with only a single goal in her 485 minutes on the pitch, Burchell was able to fashion chances on occasion, finishing with 10 shots for the season in a solid first campaign in college soccer.
Although it was a disappointing season for Nicholls State, things began promisingly for Tessa Calabria, starting her first game and playing more than hour in two of her first three appearances before picking up an assist against Alcorn State in the first game of September. However, that would be the last time the junior college transfer would feature in 2018, as injury reared its ugly head and forced the South Australian out for the remainder of the season. However, Calabria will return next season and the Colonels could certainly use her presence as despite scoring 17 goals, 7 of those came from senior Francesca Curteis, and that production will need to be replaced if the team is to improve on this season’s three wins.
Sarah Clark (Chicago State)
Team Record: 0-16-1 Stats: 8 games, 4 starts, 0 goals, 0 assists
Sarah Clark’s first season in Division I after two successful seasons at Lassen Community College looked promising as the Queenslander made four starts in her first eight appearances for the struggling Cougars. However, Clark’s season ended prematurely after those eight appearances, which spelled trouble for a Chicago State side that could have used all the help it could get as a winless streak dating back to August 2018 continued throughout the season, reaching 33 games.
Annika Clayton (Wyoming)
Team Record: 12-4-4 (Mountain West Conference Semi-Finals) Stats: 20 games, 20 starts, 4 goals, 2 assists
Wyoming needed a leader in midfield following Alisha Bass’s graduation after the 2017 season, and Annika Clayton stepped up to fill the void left by her fellow Australian superbly. Four goals and two assists certainly comprised a tidy return for the midfielder, but statistics alone do not paint the picture of Clayton’s importance to her team. Whether pulling the strings in midfield with her passing or making a marauding run forward, the midfielder’s ability to impact the game in a number of ways was vital to the Cowgirls securing a share of the Mountain West Conference regular season title and finishing with 12 wins and 4 draws in their 20 games. Clayton also received a Mountain West All-Conference Second Team nomination for her performances throughout the season, just reward for an outstanding campaign.
Kiri Dale (Hawaii)
Team Record: 9-6-1 Stats: 16 games, 12 starts, 0 goals, 2 assists
Kiri Dale enjoyed another solid season for Hawaii, settling into a position in the starting lineup for the majority of the campaign. The Rainbow Wahine narrowly missed out on their first conference tournament berth, but nonetheless even being in contention represented a vast improvement on their dismal league finishes since moving to the Big West in 2012. Dale finished the season with three complete-game performances in among several other high-minute games, tallying a pair of assists for the season as well as 9 shots in her second season at Hawaii but her first with fellow Australian and College Matildas legend Rachael Doyle as part of the coaching staff.
As has been the case for the majority of Isobel Dalton’s time at Colorado, the senior midfielder found herself just outside the regular rotation of players throughout the season, limiting both her appearances and playing time. However, despite a lack of opportunities, Dalton was still able to exhibit her class in midfield and come up with the occasional memorable moment, including a scintillating pass that split the Oregon State defence for the final assist of the senior’s college career. Having played in both the W-League and the English Women’s Super League before heading to college, Dalton’s next move will be one to watch if the former Brisbane Roar player does choose to extend her footballing career.
Lauren Featherstone (North Dakota State)
Team Record: 9-7-0 (Summit League Semi-Finals) Stats: 10 games, 2 starts, 0 goals, 0 assists
Seeking a fresh start at North Dakota State after redshirting her only season at Central Connecticut State in 2017, Lauren Featherstone had what could only be termed as a frustrating year as injury conspired to limit the redshirt freshman to just 10 games. When she actually got the chance to play, Featherstone looked at home for North Dakota State, earning two starts before enduring a three-week break midway through the season and eventually being limited to mere minutes on the pitch by the end of the campaign. However, if Featherstone can overcome her injury problems, the Macarthur Rams product can certainly become an integral part of the North Dakota State lineup going forward.
Jessie Gentle (Wyoming) Team Record: 12-4-4 (Mountain West Conference Semi-Finals) Stats: 20 games, 20 starts, 1 goal, 3 assists
Alongside classmate and fellow Aussie Annika Clayton, Jessie Gentle has been an integral member of the Wyoming lineup for much of her time in Laramie, and nothing about that changed in 2018 as the senior terrorised opposing wide players both in attack and defence. Like Clayton, Gentle started every game for the Cowgirls in 2018 as the experienced Wyoming side put together the first 12-win season in program history whilst also securing a share of the Mountain West Conference regular season title. A dynamic combination of athleticism and skill led a number of outstanding performances for Wyoming, culminating in a career-high three assists for the season and a second goal of the senior’s career, which came alongside an assist in a 3-1 win over Colorado College.
Beattie Goad (Stanford)
Team Record: 21-1-1 (Pac-12 Champions, NCAA College Cup Semi-Finals) Stats: 24 games, 9 starts, 2 goals, 3 assists
Beattie Goad has become an integral part of the Stanford side. (Photo Credit: Stanford Athletics)
Beattie Goad has seen decent playing time throughout her time at Stanford during what could only be termed as a golden era for the program, but this season saw the junior’s impact on the side become far more significant. Starting the first five games of the season as injuries opened up a spot, Goad started 9 of her 24 appearances and finished with multiple goals and assists in a season for the first time in her career. Whilst Stanford may have fallen short of repeating as champions after a 2-0 loss to eventual champions Florida State in the College Cup semi-finals, Goad’s season could only be termed as a successful one as she proved herself to be an integral part of one of the best teams in college soccer.
Having redshirted her first year at Nicholls State in 2017, Tenille Harberger finally saw her first playing time for the Colonels this year, seeing limited playing time in three games in what was a tough season in general for the team. The midfielder from Mackay was afforded just 21 minutes of playing time in those three appearances, and will no doubt be hoping to increase that playing time in her junior year in 2019 as Nicholls State look to improve on their three wins this season.
Emma Heckenberg (Drexel)
Team Record: 7-7-5 (CAA Quarter-Finals) Stats: 18 games, 16 starts, 0 goals, 4 assists
Rarely has a player appeared more willing to do whatever is required to get her team a win than Emma Heckenberg, and that has served the senior well. Heckenberg saw 16 starts in her final year of college soccer, the most of any of her four years at Drexel. Ready and willing to slot in wherever required, Heckenberg carved out a spot as a vital member of the backline with a handy ability to deliver a set-piece, much like Monique Iannella at Hofstra. That set-piece ability delivered four assists, with two of those coming in a 2-1 over St. Joseph’s and another on the game-winner in a victory over Charleston. Whilst Heckenberg was never a player that received massive plaudits, replacing a player of her ilk will prove no small task for Drexel in 2019.
After a solid first couple of seasons that saw Kristy Helmers regularly start for Nicholls State, 2018 saw the Canberra product come off the bench in the vast majority of her appearances in a side that struggled for goals for much of the season. Helmers started just four games and rarely played more than half a game, resulting in a diminished return of just two goals after scoring three in 2017 and six in her freshman year of 2016. However, those two goals were good enough for second-highest on a Nicholls State team that scored just 17 and saw 7 of those come from one player.
Sandra Hill (Grand Canyon)
Team Record: 6-13-2 (WAC Quarter-Finals) Stats: 15 games, 9 starts, 1 goal, 0 assists
Fresh off making her debut with the Cambodian national team during the off-season, Sandra Hill returned to Grand Canyon for her sophomore year and made a similar impact to what she had done in 2017. Hill certainly looks to have benefitted from having a year under her belt, looking far more composed on the pitch in 2018, and also managed to pick up her first collegiate goal with an absolute worldie in her side’s WAC Tournament quarter-final loss to Utah Valley. After starting 9 of her 15 games in 2018, Hill will no doubt be hoping to ensure that both of those numbers sit closer to 20 in her junior season, and if her development continues, there is no reason that can’t happen.
Isabel Hodgson will be tough to replace for ETSU. (Photo Credit: Dakota Hamilton/ETSU Athletics)
A star of the East Tennessee State side from the moment she stepped on the field in Johnson City, Isabel Hodgson once again enjoyed an outstanding season, finishing the 2018 season as the program’s record holder for total appearances. Despite playing a defensive role for the Buccaneers, Hodgson was still able to tally 4 goals and 2 assists, her best return since the 2016 campaign in which the South Australian was utilised in an attacking position, to help her team to a Southern Conference semi-final berth as East Tennessee State atoned for a poor non-conference season by finishing third in the league table. Hodgson has already made her next career move, signing with Adelaide United for the remainder of the W-League season, joining other Australian former college players Laura Johns, Dylan Holmes, and Kahlia Hogg.
The only thing more lethal than Monique Iannella’s defensive presence is her ability to whip in a pinpoint ball from a corner, and the senior demonstrated both with aplomb to help lead Hofstra to a second consecutive CAA title and another NCAA Tournament appearance. In a side teeming with international players, Iannella was just one of many imports playing a vital role as the Pride rolled through the CAA Tournament before demolishing Boston College in an upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Interestingly, although Iannella’s ability from a corner is renowned, the majority of her assists came in other ways, proving her versatility as a player. Three of these came in one game against Towson, all of which came from open play as the former Melbourne City followed up 2017’s six assists with five more in her senior year.
Claudia Jenkins (La Salle)
Team Record: 8-8-1 Stats: 17 games, 17 starts, 5 clean sheets, 1.248 GAA, 0.788 save percentage
Claudia Jenkins has been La Salle’s saviour on many occasions. (Photo Credit: Greg Carroccio / Sideline Photos)
After spending the 2017 as backup to senior Larisa Zambelli, Claudia Jenkins made the goalkeeper position her own in 2018, proving to be a more-than-reliable option between the sticks for La Salle. Jenkins’ save percentage and goals against average numbers put her in the top half of goalkeepers in the nation, but those numbers could have been far better if not for an early-season flurry of penalties and own goals that at times left the sophomore on a hiding to nothing. Forced to make almost five saves per game, Jenkins stood tall in a tough season for La Salle, who came back to the pack in a massive way after winning the conference title last season as the Explorers looked to replace three defensive starters who had graduated after the 2017 season.
Demi Koulizakis made her first starts since 2016 this season as the junior’s vast improvement became impossible to ignore after a slightly down season in 2017. Koulizakis’ minutes fluctuated wildly throughout the season, but demonstrated her class with a technically sublime finish in the team’s 6-0 win over Florida International, the junior’s only goal for the season. Impressively, the junior played 100 minutes in the Red Raiders’ shootout loss to Virginia in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and the fact that Koulizakis has forced her way into increased playing time in a team that is performing just as well as in previous seasons may be the most promising outcome of all from this campaign.
Cameos off the bench were the order of the season for Ashleigh Lefevre, who made 15 appearances for Illinois in her freshman year, but never saw more than 40 minutes of playing time in any one game. Often used at the back end of the first half to give starters an extended halftime break, Lefevre nevertheless managed to maintain a spot in the rotation, and was able to make her first tangible mark on a game with her first career assist in the Illini’s 5-0 win over SIU Edwardsville early in the season. Having been afforded limited opportunities in her freshman year, Lefevre will no doubt be hoping to build on that going forward to become an integral member of the Illinois starting lineup in 2019.
Teagan Micah was a vital cog in the UCLA side. (Photo Credit: Rand Bleimeister/UCLA)
Firmly established as one of the nation’s top goalkeepers, Teagan Micah came up in a massive way for UCLA on a number of occasions this season as the Bruins followed up last year’s national title game appearance with a run to the quarter-finals. Playing behind the Bruins’ outstanding defence meant Micah didn’t always have a ton of work to do, but regularly stepped up when called upon. This was most evident in the crosstown derby against USC, in which the junior made 8 saves in the Bruins’ overtime victory, including an acrobatic tip over the bar with just two seconds to play on a shot that would have otherwise won USC the game at the last possible moment. A concussion midway through the season may have kept Micah out for a few games midway through the season, but nonetheless it was another outstanding campaign for one of the top Australian players in college.
Once again it was an impressive year for Saint Francis, but also one that saw Shelby Milton receive but limited opportunities for the Red Flash in her final campaign with the team. Despite starting against Duquesne early in the season, even that game saw the defender play only 17 minutes as not one of Milton’s seven appearances saw her play more than 37 minutes. It was the same story that had panned out in each of Milton’s previous seasons at St. Francis, who started games in all three of her seasons with the team but never played more than eight games in any one campaign.
It was a frustrating season in terms of playing time for Akron freshman Freyja Murray, who saw playing time in three early-season games, totalling just 64 minutes of action in her first year with the Zips as those three games turned out to be her only appearances in her freshman year. Unfortunately, it looks as though 2018 may be Murray’s only season with the side, with social media posts suggesting the former Northern Tigers defender may be leaving the program.
Caitlin Pickett (Wyoming) Team Record: 12-4-4 (Mountain West Conference Semi-Finals) Stats: 20 games, 19 starts, 2 goals, 1 assist
Caitlin Pickett came up big in a couple of overtime thrillers. (Photo Credit: University of Wyoming Media Relations)
Caitlin Pickett started her college career in whirlwind fashion, coming off the bench to score an overtime winner in just her second game against Utah Valley. Although that goal comprised half of the freshman’s season tally, the other goal Pickett scored was even more thrilling, coming 16 seconds from the end of overtime in a vital win over Utah State that helped Wyoming on the way to a share of the Mountain West Conference regular season title. Impressively, Pickett started 19 games in her first college season, appearing at home in the Wyoming lineup, and looks set to form an integral part of the Wyoming attack alongside fellow Australian and classmate Indianna Asimus.
Sam Roff (Fairleigh Dickinson)
Team Record: 6-10-3 (Northeast Conference Semi-Finals) Stats: 19 games, 18 starts, 0 goals, 0 assists
Sam Roff’s stat line may look as bare as Old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard, but offensive output has never been the junior’s job as a member of the Fairleigh Dickinson backline. The Knights finished in the top four in their conference for both shutout percentage and goals against average, testament to Roff and her defensive teammates’ strength as a unit. Although Fairleigh Dickinson fell in the NEC semi-finals, Roff’s work this season did not go unnoticed as the junior picked up a second consecutive All-Conference First Team selection to solidify her place as one of the top defenders in the league.
Kate Swartwout (Western Carolina)
Team Record: 8-8-2 (Southern Conference Quarter-Finals) Stats: 16 games, 3 starts, 1 goal, 1 assist
Kate Swartwout showed plenty of scoring ability before making her way to Western Carolina, and those attacking instincts showed this season as the junior picked up the first goal of her college career in the Catamounts’ 2-1 loss to Chattanooga in October. Whilst starts were once again not forthcoming for Swartwout, the versatile junior retained a role as an impact player off the bench, appearing in 16 games in a middling season for the Catamounts that saw the team reach the conference tournament but fail to pick up a win, falling to Furman in the quarter-finals. With seven seniors on the roster this season, there will certainly be chances for Swartwout to become a regular starter in 2019 as she looks to end her college career with a flourish.
Claire Urquhart (Albany) Team Record: 14-7-2 (America East Champions, NCAA Tournament First Round) Stats: 7 games, 0 starts, 0 goals, 0 assists
After starting 8 games in 2017, 2018 saw a drop in Claire Urquhart’s playing time in her senior year, with just seven appearances and no starts forthcoming in the Queenslander’s final season in Albany. Urquhart did enjoy a third trip to the NCAA Tournament in four years, but unfortunately did not receive any playing time in the Great Danes’ 5-1 loss to South Florida in the opening round, rounding out a career in which she had been seemingly vastly underutilised throughout.
Alyssa Van Heurck (La Salle)
Team Record: 8-8-1 Stats: 17 games, 6 starts, 1 goal, 0 assists
Alyssa Van Heurck made the most of a positional switch. (Photo Credit: Greg Carroccio/Sideline Photos)
Known more as a fullback in her time prior to college, Alyssa Van Heurck found herself pushed up the pitch into an attacking wide role, and made the most of the switch to tally 17 appearances in her freshman year. Although the Western Australian started just six of those games, Van Heurck could regularly be called upon to provide a spark off the bench, tallying her first college goal in a 24-minute stint against UMBC in just her second college game and rattling off 3 shots in just 22 minutes against St. Bonaventure later in the season as her emergence as an integral part of the rotation became apparent.
College Matildas End Of Season Awards
Player Of The NCAA Tournament: Teagan Micah (UCLA) Freshman Of The Year: Caitlin Pickett (Wyoming) Sophomore Of The Year: Claudia Jenkins (La Salle) Junior Of The Year: Beattie Goad (Stanford) Senior Of The Year: Annika Clayton (Wyoming) Goalkeeper Of The Year: Claudia Jenkins (La Salle) and Teagan Micah (UCLA) Defender Of The Year: Monique Iannella (Hofstra) Midfielder Of The Year: Annika Clayton (Wyoming) Forward Of The Year: Caitlin Pickett (Wyoming) Breakout Player Of The Year: Claudia Jenkins (La Salle) Most Consistent Player: Annika Clayton (Wyoming) Top Goalscorer: Annika Clayton (Wyoming) and Isabel Hodgson (ETSU) – 4 Goals Most Assists: Monique Iannella (Hofstra) – 5 Assists 2018 College Matildas Player Of The Year: Annika Clayton (Wyoming)
A whirlwind weekend to end the regular season has left us with four teams and five Australians securing conference championships, with a raft of other teams having either locked up an at-large bid or still very much in the mix. However, the performance of the week came in a game that saw one Aussie help another to a title as Teagan Micah’s performance in goal helped UCLA to a win over USC that delivered Beattie Goad and Stanford an outright Pac-12 championship with a game to spare.
(Featured Image Credit: Michael Rincon)
The week kicked off with a belter of a goal from Sandra Hill that provided one of the highlights of the week even if Grand Canyon couldn’t secure a victory. The Lopes conceded two early goals to Utah Valley in their WAC quarter-final, but when the ball fell to Hill just outside the area following a corner late in the first half, the sophomore had only one thing in mind and rocketed it into the top corner to halve Utah Valley’s lead. Unfortunately, that was the last goal of the game, with Grand Canyon managing just one shot in the second half as their season came to an end with a 2-1 loss.
GOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!! SANDRA HILL NETS THE FIRST GOAL OF HER CAREER TO PUT GCU ON THE BOARD! pic.twitter.com/5AxW44pepw
Stanford needed a win in either of their two games this week to secure a share of the Pac-12 Championship, and as expected clinched one at the first opportunity with a 2-0 victory over arch-rivals Cal on the road at Berkeley. Beattie Goad started once again and played the full 90 minutes, tallying two shots with one on target and one cannoning back off the post as Stanford secured the win courtesy of a pair of Jordan DiBiasi goals, leaving the Cardinal to await the result of the game between USC and UCLA, with any dropped points from USC resulting in Stanford clinching the championship outright even before they played Arizona State. Stanford would go on to beat the Sun Devils regardless, with Goad coming off the bench to play 53 minutes as the Cardinal completed an undefeated regular season with a dominant 4-1 victory.
Stanford's undefeated regular season is the 4th in program history (2009, 2010, 2011). The Cardinal also went unbeaten in Pac-12 play for the ninth time. 📈 #GoStanfordpic.twitter.com/VMsOXtebwW
Teagan Micah remains perfect in her three games against local rivals USC after a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory for UCLA this week, and the Bruins certainly have their goalkeeper to thank for that. Micah came up with eight saves, including three highlight reel efforts, one of which came with just two seconds to play with the game tied at 2-2. In a game that saw the teams trade goals within six seconds of each other as Hailie Mace’s screamer cancelled out USC’s second goal, it was UCLA who secured the victory as Olivia Athens narrowly beat an onrushing goalkeeper to head home into an open net and extend the Bruins’ winning streak over their arch-rivals to three games, as well as see UCLA jump the Trojans to finish in second spot in the Pac-12 behind Stanford.
Monique Iannella has been ever-present in the Hofstra back four this season, and the Pride’s defensive line came up in a massive way as the Pride secured the CAA title and an NCAA Tournament berth with a 2-0 win over James Madison. Hofstra conceded just two shots on target all game, with Iannella coming up with a goal-saving block from close range in a contest that saw the Pride take an early lead through Lucy Porter before doubling the margin in the 57th minute courtesy of Sabrina Bryan.
Caitlin Cantrill and LSU faced South Carolina in the SEC semi-finals, having already won their way through from the first round last weekend. The Tigers had already upset the Gamecocks once this season in a 2-1 win at home, but South Carolina on paper stil looked to be the favourites. However, LSU would secure the 1-0 victory courtesy of a 66th minute South Carolina own goal that sent the Tigers through to the championship game against Arkansas. LSU went down 1-0 just 13 minutes in, but Shannon Cooke’s long-range screamer in the 72nd minute tied the game at 1-1. Overtime couldn’t split the teams, but cooler heads prevailed in the shootout as a far more confident LSU team converted all four of their penalties for a 4-1 shootout victory that secured the team’s first conference championship. Unfortunately, Cantrill did not feature for the Tigers in either game.
Claire Urquhart and Albany had just one game to get through this week, but it was a big one – the America East Championship against UMass-Lowell. It was hardly a contest befitting a championship game, but Albany won’t mind as they dominated for the entire 90 minutes to roll to a 5-1 victory and book their spot in the NCAA Tournament, with Urquhart featuring in garbage time in the final couple of minutes.
A Texas Tech side featuring Demi Koulizakis couldn’t quite grab the upset win over Baylor in the Big 12 semi-finals, but their season looks set to continue into the NCAA Tournament with an at-large bid. The Red Raiders gave up an equaliser just before halftime, but responded with an equaliser ten minutes after the break. An even game that saw each team finish with 18 shots rightly went to overtime, but Baylor found the golden goal in just the third extra minute. Demi Koulizakis played just two minutes in the loss, but the junior will likely have at least one more chance this season as Texas Tech will certainly hear their name called as an NCAA Tournament team on Selection Monday.
Illinois aren’t quite as comfortable as Texas Tech, but some big early season results against Duke and Oklahoma State may have padded the Illini’s resume just enough to see them sneak into the NCAA Tournament. A Big Ten semi-final loss to Penn State on the back of a 67th minute own goal ended the team’s charge for a conference championship as Ashleigh Lefevre played just a minute off the bench, and whilst they can’t get too comfortable yet, those in the know are predicting that Illinois will find their name in the NCAA Tournament bracket come Monday afternoon.
Colorado have been flying for most of the season, but after a tough back end to the season that saw the Buffaloes face Stanford, UCLA, and USC before this week’s game against Utah, the team from Boulder have slipped onto the bubble and they’ll have a sleepless Sunday night before the selection show on Monday afternoon US time. A win against Utah might have been enough to make them safe, but the Buffaloes fell to a 1-0 loss in a game in which Isobel Dalton did not feature. Now, with a solid 13-4-3 record offset by a less-than-stellar strength of schedule and just one RPI Top 50 win, Colorado will be keeping their fingers crossed and collecting every four-leaf clover and rabbit’s foot they can find in the hope that the selection committee looks favourably upon them.
The dream All-Aussie championship game in the Northeast Conference unfortunately did not come to pass this week, with All-Conference selection Sam Roff playing the full 90 minutes but Fairleigh Dickinson falling to a 2-1 defeat in their semi-final against a Central Connecticut State side that has dominated for the majority of the conference season. However, Shelby Milton and Saint Francis did make it through to the final, with the junior playing 27 minutes in the Red Flash’s 4-0 demolition of Mount St. Mary’s in the other semi-final. Unfortunately, though, Central Connecticut State could not be stopped in the championship game. Saint Francis equalised in the 78th minute having given up the opener 11 minutes earlier, but an 89th minute winner was enough to see Central Connecticut State secure the conference title and an NCAA Tournament berth in a game in which Shelby Milton unfortunately did not feature.
Wyoming came into their Mountain West Conference semi-final evenly matched with New Mexico after the pair finished as two of the league’s three co-champions. As it turned out, the match ended up going to overtime as the Cowgirls secured a 78th minute equaliser to cancel out New Mexico’s 33rd minute opener. Unfortunately, it would be New Mexico who grabbed the golden goal winner in the 102nd minute, bringing Wyoming’s season to an end, and with it, the conclusion of Jessie Gentle and Annika Clayton’s brilliant college careers. All four Aussies started for the Cowgirls, with Indianna Asimus managing two shots on target but not finding the back of the net, whilst Clayton and Gentle were solid in their final collegiate appearances and Caitlin Pickett saw 42 minutes of action as a starter. However, it wasn’t all bad news as Clayton rounded out her career with an All-Mountain West Conference second team selection.
We also bade Isabel Hodgson farewell after four outstanding years as East Tennessee State fell to a heavy 5-1 defeat to UNC Greensboro in the Southern Conference semi-finals. Although East Tennessee State had defeated their opponents in the regular season, UNC Greensboro were certainly the favourites to win this, and they came out strongly to grab a goal inside the first 20 minutes on their way to a 2-0 halftime lead. That lead would be doubled in the second half before East Tennessee State picked up a consolation in the 67th minute, before UNCG added one more from the spot with 12 minutes to play. Hodgson played 78 minutes in her final collegiate appearance, tallying one shot that was on target in rounding out a career that sees the South Australian finish as the team’s career appearances record holder and one of just two ETSU players to collect multiple All-Southern Conference Tournament selections after adding to her 2016 nod with another for her performances this year.
Two more players saw their seasons come to an end this week without having much impact on their team’s fortunes, but both will be back for another crack next season. Neither Gaby Bentley and Lauren Featherstone were called upon as their Old Dominion and North Dakota State sides unfortunately fell in conference tournaments, putting an end to their campaigns with both out of the running for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid.
Full Schedule:
Albany (Claire Urquhart)
This week: defeated Massachusetts-Lowell 5-1
Claire Urquhart came off the bench to play the final minute in Albany’s America East Championship game victory over Massachusetts-Lowell.
Colorado (Isobel Dalton)
This week: lost 1-0 to Utah
Isobel Dalton did not feature in Colorado’s loss to Utah.
East Tennessee State (Isabel Hodgson)
This week: lost 5-1 to UNC Greensboro
Isabel Hodgson played 79 minutes and tallied a shot on target in her final college match as East Tennessee State fell 5-1 to UNC Greensboro in the Southern Conference semi-finals.
Fairleigh Dickinson (Sam Roff)
This week: lost 2-1 to Central Connecticut State
Sam Roff played the full 90 minutes in Fairleigh Dickinson’s Northeast Conference semi-final loss to Central Connecticut State.
Grand Canyon (Sandra Hill)
This week: lost 2-1 to Utah Valley
Sandra Hill scored Grand Canyon’s only goal in the loss to Utah Valley in the WAC tournament quarter-finals.
Hofstra (Monique Iannella, Grace Watson-Carr)
This week: defeated James Madison 2-0
Monique Iannella played the full 90 minutes in Hofstra’s CAA Championship win over James Madison, whilst reserve goalkeeper Grace Watson-Carr did not feature.
Illinois (Ashleigh Lefevre)
This week: lost 1-0 to Penn State
Ashleigh Lefevre came off the bench to play a single minute in Illinois’ Big Ten semi-final loss to Penn State.
LSU (Caitlin Cantrill)
This week: defeated South Carolina 1-0; defeated Arkansas 4-1 on penalties (1-1 after extra time)
Caitlin Cantrill did not feature for LSU in either game this week as the Tigers secured the SEC Championship.
North Dakota State (Lauren Featherstone)
This week: lost 3-0 to Denver
Lauren Featherstone did not feature in North Dakota State’s Summit League quarter-final loss to Denver.
Old Dominion (Gaby Bentley)
This week: lost 3-2 to Louisiana Tech (OT)
Gaby Bentley did not feature for Old Dominion in their overtime loss to Louisiana Tech in the Conference USA quarter-finals.
St. Francis University (Shelby Milton)
This week: defeated Mount St. Mary’s 4-0; lost 2-1 to Central Connecticut State
Shelby Milton came off the bench to play 27 minutes in St. Francis’ Northeast Conference semi-final win over Mount St. Mary’s, but did not feature in the championship game against Central Connecticut State.
Stanford (Beattie Goad)
This week: defeated California 2-0; defeated Arizona State 4-1
Beattie Goad played the full 90 minutes in Stanford’s win over California, tallying two shots with one on target before playing 53 minutes off the bench against Arizona State.
Texas Tech (Demi Koulizakis)
This week: lost 2-1 to Baylor (OT)
Demi Koulizakis came off the bench for Texas Tech in their Big 12 semi-final loss to Baylor, playing just two minutes.
UCLA (Teagan Micah)
This week: defeated USC 3-2 (OT)
Teagan Micah played all 105 minutes of UCLA’s overtime victory over USC, making 8 saves.
All four Australians started in Wyoming’s loss to New Mexico in the Mountain West Conference semi-finals. Annika Clayton was a star in midfield, playing 86 minutes and registering a single shot in the process. Jessie Gentle was ever-present at fullback, whilst Caitlin Pickett played 42 minutes. Indianna Asimus had her chances, finishing with four shots including two on target in a 78-minute performance.
15 teams featuring Australians remain standing heading into the final week of the regular season, and all have a shot of reaching the NCAA Tournament. How close each team is varies wildly, but nonetheless it looks set to be a thriller of a week.
(Featured Image Credit: University of Wyoming Media Relations)
It may be conference tournament season, but ironically enough the team with the best shot at a title won’t actually be playing in a tournament at all. That team is Beattie Goad’s Stanford outfit, whose Pac-12 conference champion is decided on league results. Coming into the final week, Stanford are tied atop the standings with USC, but have a rescheduled game against Arizona State in their pocket and as such are the only team to play two games this weekend. First up, the Cardinal take on local rivals California on the road at Berkeley, and with the Golden Bears sitting in 11th spot in the 12-team league, a win to clinch no less than a share of the title looks especially likely for a Stanford team that continues to roll on during an undefeated streak that now stretches the best part of two seasons. Stanford can then secure the title for themselves against Arizona State, where any points would be enough to make the result of USC’s game against third-placed UCLA game moot in terms of Stanford’s position.
Speaking of UCLA, Teagan Micah’s Bruins will play that game against local rivals USC at the StubHub Centre, home of the LA Galaxy, in a game that drew a crowd in excess of 10,000 last season when played on campus at UCLA. A win is the only way that UCLA can mount an unlikely challenge for the Pac-12 title, but even if Stanford’s results don’t go their way, a win against another top team will do wonders for their seeding in the NCAA Tournament.
Kicking off #RivalryWeek with a reminder that the crosstown showdown is not one to miss! Just ask the 12,000 fans who packed Drake to see UCLA #BeatSC 3-2 in OT last year.
Rounding out the Pac-12 is Isobel Dalton and Colorado, who need to get a result against Utah in their final match of the regular season to secure their own NCAA Tournament spot. As it stands, the Buffaloes are just about in, but dropping points to a Utah side that sits well below them in the RPI rankings would just about destroy any chance of Colorado holding onto that tournament spot. After a 16-game unbeaten run to start the season, making the tournament is essentially non-negotiable for the Buffaloes at this stage, but they’ll have to put in the work to get there, particularly after Utah were able to snatch a draw against USC last week.
Moving onto conference tournaments, two teams have already secured their spots in championship games in tournaments that started last weekend. Monique Iannella and Grace Watson-Carr’s Hofstra put together a pair of 1-0 wins against Delaware and Northeastern to secure their passage through to the CAA Championship game against James Madison, whilst an Albany side featuring Claire Urquhart has only Massachusetts-Lowell standing between them and a return trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Meanwhile, four other teams have made their way through to conference tournament semi-finals and find themselves two games away from capturing a conference championship and an NCAA Tournament berth. Caitlin Cantrill’s LSU side have probably done enough to secure an at-large bid regardless, but will still want to capture the SEC crown. They’ll face national title contender South Carolina, whilst in the Big 12, Demi Koulizakis and Texas Tech are in the same boat with a solid record to this point and a game against potential national #1 seed Baylor in the semi-finals not threatening to do any damage to their CV even if they were to suffer a loss.
Ashleigh Lefevre and Illinois sit right on the bubble, and facing Penn State in the Big Ten semi-finals not only gives the Illini a chance to reach the conference championship, but also really bolster their CV against a team that sits in the top 25 of the RPI rankings. Like LSU and Texas Tech, they may not need a conference title in order to reach the NCAA Tournament, but they Isabel Hodgson and East Tennessee State, on the other hand, are in a completely different situation. Completely out of the race for an at-large bid, winning the Southern Conference championship is the only way the Buccaneers are going to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. They’ll face #2 seed UNC Greensboro in the semi-finals, and whilst the yearly body of work suggests that ETSU come in as underdogs, they do have a win against UNC Greensboro this season under their belts.
Five more teams start their own conference tournaments this week, but we can only see a maximum of four champions from this set as Sam Roff’s Fairleigh Dickinson side and Shelby Milton’s St. Francis outfit both reached the Northeast Conference tournament. The two sides faced off in last year’s championship game, with St. Francis emerging victorious on penalties, and with one team in each of the semi-finals in 2018, there is no reason the same matchup can’t occur again in this year’s tournament.
Lauren Featherstone and North Dakota State will also start in the semi-final round in the Summit League’s four-team tournament, facing Denver in the 2 v 3 matchup. All the numbers point towards a Denver victory in this one, but North Dakota State ran the Pioneers close in their regular season contest, falling 3-2 in a barnburner of a contest.
The Australian quartet at Wyoming earned their way to the semi-finals of the Mountain West Conference tournament through their regular season performance, securing a bye as the 2nd seed in the six-team tournament. The Cowgirls will take on fellow co-champions New Mexico, who defeated Colorado College in the 3 v 6 matchup earlier in the week. With the teams tied atop the table in the regular season, this looks certain to be a tight one, but Wyoming did defeat New Mexico 3-2 in the regular season.
Sandra Hill’s Grand Canyon and Gaby Bentley’s Old Dominion have also reached the WAC and Conference USA tournaments respectively, but if they’re going to secure an unlikely conference title, it’s going to happen the hard way as both will start in the quarter-finals. Grand Canyon will face Utah Valley in their first game of the WAC Tournament, and will start as slight favourites despite playing out a 0-0 draw with the Wolverines just 10 days ago. Meanwhile, Old Dominion will face Louisiana Tech in the 4 v 5 matchup in Conference USA. This is a game in which Old Dominion will start as slight favourites, but Louisiana Tech will be confident after winning their regular season matchup 3-2 in late September.
Sandra Hill and Grand Canyon need wins to keep pace with the leaders in the WAC, but Sarah Clark and Chicago State stand in their way and will be hungry for a first win of 2018. Elsewhere, Sam Roff and Isabel Hodgson look to maintain positions among the top of their respective leagues, whilst Emma Heckenberg faces both Jodie Burchell and Monique Iannella in yet more CAA Aussie v Aussie affairs.
(Featured Image Credit: Michael Rincon)
Chicago State and Grand Canyon face off this week, and whilst it may not be the most high-profile game of the season, it does feature an Aussie on either side and could prove to be a vital game in Grand Canyon’s run towards a conference tournament spot. Sarah Clark has been an occasional feature in the Chicago State lineup, and with the Cougars once again struggling through the season, time is running out to pick up their first win. They’ll need goals if they are going to get a result, and now would be the perfect time for Clark to score her first in Division I. Sandra Hill will be part of the Grand Canyon back line that will be determined to prolong Chicago State’s winless streak, particularly as they need to pick up points regularly if they are to reach the conference tournament. The WAC Tournament features six teams, and the Antelopes currently sit tied for sixth with a single win after three games. They’ll likely need at least two more wins to secure a postseason berth, so letting their most winnable game of the season slip is simply out of the question.
Once again, the CAA dishes up some Aussie v Aussie affairs as Emma Heckenberg and Drexel face two teams featuring Aussies this weekend. First up, the Dragons face Monique Iannella and Hofstra, where a win would put them just a point behind the currently fourth-placed Pride side. Drexel then round out the weekend against bottom side Towson, for whom freshman Jodie Burchell scored her first career goal in a 3-3 draw with third-placed Charleston last week. That draw showed that whilst Towson may be bottom of the pile, they can certainly match it with the conference’s top teams, so Heckenberg and her team will have to ensure that they are in top form heading to this weekend.
Isabel Hodgson and East Tennessee State have won just four games this season, but three of those have come in conference play to leave the Buccaneers sitting in a solid fourth position in the Southern Conference. However, their opponents this week could hardly be more disparate as the weekend begins by taking on a 10-2-1 UNC Greensboro side that has won all five of its league fixtures before facing a VMI team that has lost all five conference games and shipped 16 goals in the process. A win against VMI is an absolute non-negotiable for Hodgson and the Buccaneers this week, whilst a win against UNC Greensboro would do plenty to solidify their position in the conference tournament spots heading into the final week of league play.
Fairleigh Dickinson have one of the better defensive records in the Northeast Conference so far this season, with Sam Roff and her fellow backline members helping the Knights to equal third midway through league play. Having already faced two of the other teams in the top four already, Roff and the Knights this week face the bottom two teams in the conference in Wagner and LIU Brooklyn. Wagner have had enough trouble scoring without facing a defence as stingy as Fairleigh Dickinson’s, tallying just three goals all season, so expect Roff to be in lockdown mode in this game. However, LIU Brooklyn have scored as many or more goals than all bar two teams in the conference this season. This is one game where Roff will be called on to be at her outstanding best, as the Blackbirds will be ready to pounce on any opportunity, although the Fairleigh Dickinson attack should get plenty of chances of their own. With Roff known for unleashing the occasional shot, perhaps a game against the league’s leakiest defence could be her best opportunity to tally a first collegiate goal.
Full Schedule:
Akron (Freyja Murray)
This week: @ Ball State – 7am, Saturday October 13; @ Miami (Ohio) – 4am, Monday October 15
Albany (Claire Urquhart)
This week: @ Hartford – 10am, Friday October 12; v New Hampshire – 5am, Monday October 15
Chicago State (Sarah Clark)
This week: v Grand Canyon – 5am, Saturday October 13; @ New Mexico State – 8am, Monday October 15
Colorado (Isobel Dalton)
This week: v Oregon – 6am, Sunday October 14
Drexel (Emma Heckenberg)
This week: v Hofstra – 9am, Friday October 12; @ Towson – 4am, Monday October 15
East Tennessee State (Isabel Hodgson)
This week: v VMI – 10am, Saturday October 13; v UNC Greensboro – 5am, Monday October 15
Fairleigh Dickinson (Sam Roff)
This week: v LIU Brooklyn – 7am, Saturday October 13; @ Wagner – 4am, Monday October 15
Georgia Southern (Hannah Allen)
This week: v Coastal Carolina – 10am, Saturday October 13
Grand Canyon (Sandra Hill)
This week: @ Chicago State – 5am, Saturday October 13; @ UMKC – 5am, Monday October 15
Hofstra (Monique Iannella, Grace Watson-Carr)
This week: @ Drexel – 9am, Friday October 12; @ Elon – 3am, Monday October 15
Illinois (Ashleigh Lefevre)
This week: v Purdue – 11am, Friday October 12; v Indiana – 5am, Monday October 15
La Salle (Claudia Jenkins, Alyssa Van Heurck)
This week: @ Dayton – 10am, Friday October 12; @ Fordham – 4am, Monday October 15
LSU (Caitlin Cantrill)
This week: v Mississippi – 10am, Friday October 12
Marshall (Laura Farrelly)
This week: v Rice – 10am, Saturday October 13; v North Texas – 3am, Monday October 15
Nicholls State (Tessa Calabria, Tenille Harberger, Kristy Helmers)
This week: v Sam Houston State – 8am, Saturday October 13; v Stephen F. Austin – 5am, Monday October 15
North Dakota State (Lauren Featherstone)
This week: v South Dakota State – 5am, Monday October 15
Old Dominion (Gaby Bentley)
This week: @ Florida Atlantic – 10am, Friday October 12; v UAB – 4am, Monday October 15
Southeast Missouri State (Siena Senatore)
This week: @ Eastern Illinois – 6am, Friday October 12; @ SIU Edwardsville – 5am, Monday October 15
St. Francis University (Shelby Milton)
This week: @ Robert Morris – 4am, Sunday October 14
Stanford (Beattie Goad)
This week: @ Arizona State – 1pm, Sunday October 14
Texas Tech (Demi Koulizakis)
This week: @ Kansas State – 11am, Saturday October 13; @ Kansas – 5am, Monday October 15
Towson (Jodie Burchell)
This week: @ Delaware – 10am, Friday October 12; v Drexel – 4am, Monday October 15
UCLA (Teagan Micah)
This week: @ Washington – 12pm, Saturday October 13
Western Carolina (Kate Swartwout)
This week: v UNC Greensboro – 10am, Saturday October 13; v VMI – 4am, Monday October 15
William & Mary (Lorena Bugden)
This week: v Elon – 10am, Friday October 12; v James Madison – 5am, Monday October 15
