The WashU Bears women’s soccer team is 17-1-3 this season and will play Messiah University in the NCAA D3 Final Four on Thursday. (Photo courtesy: NCAA.com)

WashU Women’s Soccer – Gameday Info
Match No. 22 – #5 Messiah (21-2-0) vs. #2 WashU (17-1-3)
Date/Time – November 30, 2023 – 5:30 pm
Location – Kerr Stadium — Salem, VA
Broadcast – NCAA.com
Live Stats – WashU Sidearm Stats

Steven Millbrook
Staff Writer

SALEM, VA — Championship weekend is here and the No. 2-ranked Washington University women’s soccer team is just two wins away from reaching its goal of winning its second NCAA championship.

But first, the Bears have to get past one of Division III’s most elite programs in Messiah University — the No. 5-ranked team in the country, which has appeared in the NCAA national championship game 10 times.

WashU and Messiah will meet in the second game of the day at 5:30 p.m. The opener will feature Cal Lutheran versus Tufts University. That match will kick off at 3 p.m.

The two winners will then advance to the NCAA Division III national championship game on Saturday at 3 p.m. All games for the Final Four will be at Kerr Stadium in Salem, Va.

See below for a quick preview of the four teams competing in the 2023 Final Four:

No. 2 Washington University Bears

17-1-3, 4-1-2 University Athletic Association
UAA Champions
Location: St. Louis, Mo.
Coach: Jim Conlon (15th Season, 451-43-32 with the Bears)
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 22nd (48-15-12 Tournament Record)
Best NCAA Tournament Finish: National Champions (2016)

The Bears enter the Final Four with a 17-1-3 overall record in 2023. The Bears earned their 16th UAA Title in program history and eighth in the last nine years with a 0-0 tie against the University of Chicago to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The Bears had a dominant 2023 regular season winning 14 of their first 15 games and did so without allowing a goal. The Bears only allowed two goals during the regular season, both of the goals came in the Bears only loss of the season against University of Rochester on Oct. 29.

The Bears offense was strong in 2023 scoring 62 goals and averaging 2.95 goals per game headed into the Final Four. The Bears only have four players with 10 or more points, but have a deep group with 15 players with two or goals on the season. As mentioned before, the Bears defense was strong all season. The Bears allowed only seven goals all season which was tied for second in the country, and six of the goals given up were in two games. The Bears enter the Final Four with 18 shutouts on the season, which is tied for the most in the nation.

How They Got Here
The Bears opened the 2023 NCAA Tournament with a 2-0 win over Maryville College in the first round. The Bears then took down Sewanee, 4-0 to advance to the Sweet 16. The Bears kept rolling with a 4-1 win over Calvin University to advance to the Elite Eight. The Bears then defeated University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 5-4 in penalty kicks after the two teams were tied 4-4 after overtime. The two teams scored four totals in overtime, with Julia Moore scoring the game-tying goal in the 109th minute to send the game to PKs.
 
Players to Watch
#14 Gaelen Clayton – 9 goals, 5 assists, 23 points, 4 game-winning goals, 29 shots
#28 Grace Ehlert – 10 goals, 1 assist, 21 points, 4 game-winning goals, 39 shots
#11 Ella Koleno – 5 goals, 6 assists, 16 points, 3 game-winning goals, 48 shots
#4 Jessica Greven – 4 goals, 2 assists, 10 points, 1 game-winning goal, 14 shots
#23 Meryl McKenna – 4 goals, 1 assist, 9 points, 2 game-winning goals, 23 shots
 #33 Sidney Conner – 0.36 goals-against average, 41 saves, .854 sv. pct., 16 shutouts

History Against Messiah
The Falcons and Bears have met four times all-time. The Falcons are 1-1-2 against the Bears and the two teams have only met in the NCAA Tournament. The most recent meeting last season, the Falcons and Bears went into PKs, with the Falcons winning 5-4. The Falcons and Bears have gone to penalty kick in three out of the four meetings.

No. 5 Messiah Falcons

21-2-0, 7-0-0 MAC Commonwealth
MAC Commonwealth Champions
Location: Grantham, Pa.
Coach: Scott Frey (23rd season, 479-31-33 with the Falcons)
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 23rd (78-11-11 Tournament Record)
Best NCAA Tournament Finish: Six-Time National Champions (2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2019)

The Falcons enter the Final Four with a 21-2 overall record on the season. The Falcons entered the tournament on a hot streak winning their last 13 games on the season, including a 4-1 win over York in the MAC Commonwealth Championship game to earn an automatic bid. During the Falcons current 17-game winning streak, the Falcons have been dominant, outscoring their opponents 57-5.  

The Falcons offense this season has come from a variety of players, with nine players totaling 10 points or more on the season. The Falcons have totaled 69 goals on the season, which ranks 12th in the nation and have averaged 3.00 goals per game. Even with a strong offense, the Falcons defense shined throughout the season. The Falcons defense has given up only 10 goals all season, which was ranked 12th in the country. The Falcons also have 15 shutouts all season that ranked tied for 10th most in the nation.
 
How They Got Here
The Falcons hosted the Opening Weekend and came away with two wins on the weekend. The Falcons opened the tournament with a dominant 5-1 win over Westfield St. in the first round. Brittany Laird led the Falcons with two goals. After the Falcons opening round win, the Falcons then faced No. 13 Williams in the second round. In a tight defensive battle, the Falcons used a goal from Hannah Adair in the 87th minute to advance to the Sectional Weekend. In the Sweet Sixteen game against No. 4 Amherst College, The Falcons scored two unanswered goals from Brittany Laird and Kristina Akselsen to advance to the Elite Eight with a 3-1 win. The Falcons took on the Blue Streaks of John Carroll and used a late goal from Hannah Adair in the 83rd minute to end the Blue Streaks Cinderella run.
 
Players to Watch
#10 Hannah Adair – 12 goals, 4 assists, 28 points, 7 game-winning goals, 99 shots
#11 Brittany Laird – 11 goals, 2 assists, 24 points, 3 game-winning goals, 45 shots
#5 Julia Martin – 7 goals, 5 assists, 19 points, 2 game-winning goals, 36 shots
#18 Kristina Akselsen – 7 goals, 4 assists, 18 points, 3 game-winning goals, 50 shots
#9 Kaitlyn Laird – 6 goals, 4 assists, 16 points, 1 game-winning goal, 60 shots
#0 Ava Wert – 0.25 goals-against average, 26 saves, .867 sv. pct., 7 shutouts

California Lutheran University Regals

18-1-5, 9-0-3 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
SCIAC Runner-Up
Location: Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Coach: Frank Marino (14th Season, 202-63-43 with the Regals)
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 16th (9-14-3 Tournament Record)
Best NCAA Tournament Finish: Final Four (2023)

The Regals enter the Final Four with a 18-1-5 record in 2023. The Regals earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament after falling 1-0 in the SCIAC Tournament Championship game to No. 18 Pomona-Pitzer. The Regals are making their 16th NCAA tournament appearance in program history and making their first appearance in the Final Four in program history.
 
The Regals offense enter the Final Four with 43 goals and 1.79 goals-per game. The offense is led by three-time All-SCIAC First Team forward Isabella Veljacic, who has a team-high 22 points so far this season. The defense has been strong for Cal Lutheran all season, allowing only 12 goals all season and 0.50 goals-allowed per game. The Regals have totaled 13 shutouts. The Regals defense is led by SCIAC Defensive Player of the Year, Avery West.
 
How They Got Here
The Regals survived a late comeback attempt from Carleton in the First Round to advance to the second round. Cal Lutheran avenged their SCIAC Tournament Championship loss to Pomona-Pitzer with a 1-0 win to advance to the Sweet 16. The Regals then defeated Hardin-Simmons 1-0 to advance to the Elite Eight. In the Elite Eight, The Regals scored a tying goal in the 87th minute to force overtime against No. 1 Christopher Newport. After neither team scored in overtime, the game went to penalty kicks. With both teams tied at 3-3 in PKs, Savana Durr scored the game-winner to win 4-3 in penalty kicks and push the Regals to their first ever Final Four appearance.
 
Players to Watch
#27 Isabella Veljacic – 9 goals, 4 assists, 22 points, 3 game-winning goals, 74 shots
#21 Ashley Escamilla – 6 goals, 2 assists, 14 points, 2 game-winning goals, 17 shots
#36 Eden Quiroz – 5 goals, 4 assists, 14 points, 3 game-winning goals, 35 shots
#5 Elisa Shott – 4 goals, 4 assists, 12 points, 1 game-winning goal, 19 shots
#32 Anna Evenson – 1 goal, 8 assists, 10 points, 1 game-winning goal, 32 shots
#1 Kelsey Slaugh – 0.37 goals-against average, 20 saves, .870 sv. pct., 4 shutouts

Tufts University Jumbos

11-5-4, 3-4-3 NESCAC
NESCAC Quarterfinalist
Location: Medford, Mass.
Coach: Martha Whiting (25th Season, 230-126-47 with the Jumbos)
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 10th (18-8-4 Tournament Record)
Best NCAA Tournament Finish: NCAA Runner-Up (2000)

The Jumbos enter the Final Four with a 11-5-4 record in 2023. The Jumbos earned an at-large bid after navigating a tough NESCAC schedule. The Jumbos fell to No. 4 Amherst College, 3-1 in the NESCAC Quarterfinals.
 
The Jumbos offense enters the Final Four with 41 goals on the season with 2.05 goals-per game. The Jumbos offense was led by First Team All-NESCAC forward, Elsi Aires, who finished with 32 points on the season. The Jumbos allowed 26 goals on the season with 1.30 goals-allowed per game. The Jumbo defense is led by Second Team All-NESCAC defender Olivia Patz.
 
How They Got Here
The Jumbos defeated Franklin and Marshall 2-1 in the opening round. The Jumbos scored a game-winner in the 68th minute to advance to the second round. The Jumbos upset No. 15 TCNJ 3-0 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. The Jumbos then defeated No. 22 Bowdoin 3-2 to advance to the Elite Eight. The Jumbos pulled off their third straight upset with a 1-0 win over No. 6 University of Rochester. Elsi Aires scored the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute to push Tufts into the Final Four.

Players to Watch
#9 Elsi Aires – 14 goals, 4 assists, 32 points, 4 game-winning goals, 87 shots
#16 Thalia Greenberg – 7 goals, 2 assists, 16 points, 1 game-winning goal, 38 shots
#23 Nicole Sommers – 5 goals, 1 assist, 11 points, 2 game-winning goals, 29 shots
#7 Caroline Kelly – 2 goals, 6 assists, 10 points, 1 game-winning goal, 48 shots
#19 Waverly Sumner – 4 goals, 2 assists, 10 points, 30 shots
#35 Gigi Edwards – 1.03 goals-against average, 63 saves, .797 sv. pct., 4 shutouts

2023 NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championships
Semifinals – Thursday, November 30 – Salem, Va. (Kerr Stadium)
Semifinal 1 – Cal Lutheran (18-1-5) vs. Tufts (11-5-4) – 3 pm – Watch
Semifinal 2 – #5 Messiah (21-2) vs. #2 WashU (17-1-3) – 5:30 pm – Watch

Championship Game – Saturday, December 2 – Salem, Va. (Kerr Stadium)
Championship Game – Semifinal winners – 3 pm