Herons Win: Advance to Championship
6 December 2019 Herons Win: Advance to Championship
The No. 2 William Smith College soccer teamdefeated theeighth-ranked Pomona-Pitzer (2-0) in the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Womens Soccer Championship on Friday, Dec. 6, at UNC-Greensboro Soccer Stadium in Greensboro, N.C. The Herons will take onNo. 1 Messiah tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 7.
Game details to be posted shortly.
The information below was posted in advance of the semifinal game.
Fans who make the trip to Greensboro can join alums, parents and friends for a pregame tailgate. On Friday, the tailgate will start at noon. On campus, there will bea watch party in the Scandling Campus Center starting at 1:45 p.m. On Saturday, the 2:30 p.m. game will be shown. The games will bestreamedon the TVs and prizes will be given out throughout the games. Fans can also listen to Ted Baker and Assistant Dean David Mapstone 93, P21call the game on 105.7 FM.
William Smith is 20-1-1 overall and enters the semifinals riding a 16-game win streak, the longest active streak in Division III. The Herons are making their 11th appearance in the national semifinals and first since 2013. William Smith is ranked third in the nation in goals against average (0.27), third in shutout percentage (.773), fourth in winning percentage (.932) and 14th in save percentage (.878). The Herons have allowed just six goals this season, only Pomona-Pitzer (5) and MIT (4) have surrendered fewer goals.
Offensively, William Smith has spread the wealth this season with 18 players accounting for the teams 51 goals. JuniorSheila McQuillenleads the team with 23 points on nine goals and five assists. She has found her scoring touch of late, notching five goals in four NCAA tournament games. JuniorJulia Keoghand sophomoreSarah Grayare second on the team with five goals each. First-yearKatrine Bergleads the team with six assists. McQuillen and juniorAmanda Adamsare tied for second with five assists each.
SophomoreAmanda Keslerhas played a majority of the minutes in goal this season. She is 20-1-1 with .878 save percentage and a 0.28 goals against average. Keslers 14 shutouts are second most in Division III. She ranks fourth in the nation in GAA and 17th in save percentage.
Pomona-Pitzer brings a 20-1-2 overall record into the weekend. The Sagehens earned a spot in the NCAA tournament after winning the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference automatic bid. Pomona-Pitzer advanced out of the Washington (Mo.) sectional. The Sagehens and Bears played to a 0-0 tie with Pomona-Pitzer advancing on penalty kicks 5-4. The Sagehens are making their first trip to the national semifinals. Pomona-Pitzer is first in the nation in shutout percentage (.870), second in goals against average (0.21), second in save percentage (.933), sixth in winning percentage (.913) 22nd in total goals (62) and 25th in total points (160).
Bria VarnBuhler leads Pomona-Pitzer with 21 goals and 45 points. Hannah Mandell is second with 11 tallies. Four players share the team lead with five assists each. Isa Berardo has played a majority of the minutes in goal. She is 15-1-2 with a 0.26 GAA and a .924 save percentage. Berardo is second in the nation in save percentage and third in GAA.
This will be the first meeting between the two teams. Fans can follow the action withlive statsandlive video. The match will also be broadcast live by WHWS-FM (105.7 in Geneva).
General admission tickets will be sold as a single day pass this weekend and grants admission for all four semifinal games (womens and mens) on Friday. Saturdays day pass allows ticket holders to attend both national championship games. Day cost $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. An All-Tournament pass will also be sold and allows access to six games. The all-tournament pass costs $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors.Tickets can be purchased online.
In the other semifinal, No. 25 Carnegie Mellon (14-5-2) will take on No. 1 Messiah (21-1-2) at 11 a.m. The championship match is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7.