Women's Soccer | 11/7/2018 9:03:00 AM
ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT women's soccer team will host first and second round games of the 2018 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship from Tiger Stadium Nov. 10-11. Messiah College will play Centenary University on Saturday Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. followed by RIT versus Susquehanna University at 1:30 p.m. The winners will face-off in the second round on Sunday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m.
Tickets for each day are $6 for adults, $3 for students and $2 for kids 3-12. Tickets can be purchased at the main entrance to Tiger Stadium. Complimentary tickets for RIT students only available for the Tigers game versus Susquehanna on Saturday compliments of RIT Student Affairs.
RIT received an at-large bid into the 2018 tournament. It is the third NCAA Tournament appearance for the Tigers, and the first since 2013. RIT was runner-up to No. 7 William Smith College in the Liberty League Tournament, falling 1-0 in Sunday's title game. RIT enters the weekend is 4-1-1 in its last six games, outscoring its opponents 8-5 over that stretch.
RIT enters the NCAA Tournament averaging 1.68 goals per game, outscoring its opponents 32-14. The Tigers allowing 0.74 goals per contest, including five shutouts.
Marla Roberts (Penfield, NY/Home Schooled) leads the team with eight goals, and points with 18 points.
Mia White (Littleton, CO/Rocky Mountain Deaf School) is second on the team with four goals and 11 points.
Maggie Hoey (Charlotte, NC/Lincoln Charter School) is tied for third on the team in scoring with nine points on four goals and an assist. She leads the team with three game-winning goals.
Lauren Zeglen (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) leads the Tigers with five assists to go along with nine points. RIT boasts the 2018 Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year,
Lauren Chester (Rochester, NY/Greece Olympia).
Alyssa Salls (Plattsburgh, NY/Plattsburgh) has seen the majority of the minutes in net for RIT, posting a 7-2-3 record with a 0.68 goals against average and a .873 save percentage.
Centenary is making its second NCAA Tournament Appearance in 2018, and its first since 2010. The Cyclones earned the automatic bid into this year's tournament after a 2-0 win over Cedar Crest in the Colonial States Athletic Conference Tournament. Haley Hobbs and Chloe Christopher each scored for the Cyclones.
Centenary enters the tournament averaging 3.65 goals per contest, outscoring its opponents 73-24 this season. Defensively, the Cyclones allow 1.20 goals per game, including 12 shutouts. Christopher leads the team and is 18th in Division III with 19 goals and is 17th nationally with 46 points. Amanda Benoit is second with 16 goals and 44 points, while Kara LaPolice is third with 18 points and leads the team with 10 assists. Rachel Colt has seen the majority of the minutes in net for Centenary, posting an 8-6-0 record with a 1.40 goals against average and a .806 save percentage and seven shutouts.
Messiah College, ranked second in this week's United Soccer Coaches Div. III Coaches Poll, is making its 19th straight NCAA Tournament appearance, advancing to the Round of 16 in 17 of the last 18 years. The Falcons earned the automatic bid into this year's tournament with a 1-0 overtime win over Arcadia in the MAC Commonwealth Conference title game Saturday. Brooke Firestone scored in the 106th minute to give the Falcons the win.
Messiah, enters the national tournament with a 17-1-1 overall record. The Falcons average 3.79 goals per game, outscoring their opponents 72-3 on the season. Messiah is the top defensive team in Division III, allowing a paltry 0.16 goals per game. The Falcons have not allowed a goal since Sept. 19 versus Elizabethtown. Firestone leads Messiah the team with 18 goals and 43 points. Sunny Gelnovatch is second on the team with 25 points and 10 goals, while Jessie Fisher is third in scoring with 23 points and leads the Falcons with 11 assists. Sara Yunez has seen the majority of the minutes in net for Messiah, posting a 13-1-1 record. She is seventh in Division III with a 0.24 goals against average, and an .875 save percentage.
Susquehanna is making an appearance into the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. The River Hawks tied Scranton 1-1 in the Landmark Conference Championship, earning the automatic bid 5-4 on penalty kicks.
Susquehanna enters the tournament with a 13-3-3 overall record, and is 3-2-1 in its last six games. The River Hawks are averaging 1.32 goals per game, outscoring their opponents 25-7. Defensively, Susquehanna allows 0.37 goals per contest, including 13 clean sheets. Anna Werner leads the River Hawks with seven goals and 16 points. Emily Sullivan is second on the team with 15 points on six goals and three assists, while Kate Cantrell leads the team with five assists and is third with 11 points. Madison Welliver has seen the majority of the minutes in net, posting a 13-3-3 overall record with a 0.36 goals against average and a .914 save percentage.
RIT also advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2012 and 2013. This is the first time RIT is hosting an NCAA Tournament regional.
