Women's Soccer
[4] Lebanon Valley (11-6-1, 6-2-1 CC) at [1] Messiah (16-1-1, 9-0 CC)
Friday, Nov. 2 | 5:30 p.m. | Shoemaker Field
How They Got Here
Lebanon Valley, the fourth seed, took care of business in a comprehensive 2-0 win over Albright in Wednesday's quarterfinal. Messiah, the top seed, received a bye to the semifinal after not suffering a conference loss this season.
The Regular Season Meeting
Messiah edged LVC, 3-2, on Oct. 20 at Herbert Field with three dramatic late goals. No CC team played the Falcons - the nation's #1 ranked team - closer this year than the Dutchmen, who went up 2-0 in the first half on quick goals by
Lindi Crist and
Heather Tran. Messiah got a goal back in the 63rd minute by Kyele Bridel, then Nikki Elsaesser and Rachel Scheibeler hit less than a minute apart in the 85th and 86th minutes to give Messiah the comeback. LVC did its best, as Messiah held only a 13-12 shots advantage in that game.
LVC Quick Look
A trio of first-team all-CC players have led the Dutchmen, including leading scorer
Nicole Snyder (13g, 5a), who became LVC's all-time goals and points leader this year. Midfield
Heather Tran (2g, 5a) has had an outstanding season, and freshman defender
Alexa Muffly was recognized as one of the CC's top backs.
Amanda Douglass (3g, 5a) earned honorable mention all-CC distinction after a sophomore season that saw her become a dangerous playmaker at right forward. Offensively, LVC gets contributions from all over the field, including reigning CC Player of the Week
Morgan Miller, who has four goals and an assist in her last three games;
Lindi Crist (3g, 2a),
Stevi Laird (3g, 1a), and
Jess Kleeschulte (3g, 1a). LVC's defense has been outstanding, with
Sami Young sporting a 0.94 GAA and .800 save percentage behind the backline of Muffly,
Ines Antensteiner,
Allison Korns, and
Dani Douglass.
Messiah Quick Look
Messiah has earned its #1 national ranking, sporting 15 shutouts this season. Led by CC Player of the Year Alex Brandt (12g, 9a) and Rachel Scheibler (10g, 5a), the Falcons have allowed only five goals all season - two of them to the Dutchmen. Nikki Elsaesser has nine goals and six assists, and Alicia Frey (8g, 4a) and Trisha Tshudy (4g, 4a) have been important offensive contributors. The Falcon defense is what wins them games, though, with Audra Larson having an impressive 0.27 GAA and .875 save percentage with her 15 clean sheets.
The Other Side of the Bracket
Third-seeded Elizabethtown visits second-seeded Stevenson tonight at 7:30 p.m.
What's Ahead
The winners of tonight's semifinals meet for the championship on Sunday at the higher seed, at a time to be determined.
Field Hockey
[2] Lebanon Valley (11-7, 6-2 CC) vs. [3] Elizabethtown (13-5, 6-2 CC)
Friday, Nov. 2 | 6 p.m. | Arnold Field
How They Got Here
Both teams received byes into the semifinals, with LVC earning the second seed and Elizabethtown the third. Both teams went 6-2 in conference play, but LVC's 2-1 win over the Blue Jays gave them the tiebreaker and home-field advantage for the semifinals.
The Regular Season Meeting
Lebanon Valley beat E-town, 2-1, on Oct. 24 thanks to second-half goals by
Lyndee Sheaffer and
Bridget Monighan. Emily Butler scored in the first half for the then-18th ranked Blue Jays, but Sheaffer leveled the game in the 42nd minute before Monighan hit on a corner in the 55th minute. E-town outshot LVC 17-7, but
Chloe Baro made six saves to help the Dutchmen, including stopping CC Player of the Year Nadine Yunginger on a penalty stroke late in the first half.
LVC Quick Look
The Dutchmen had a trio of first-team all-Commonwealth picks, led by midfielders
Caitlin Vasey (4g, 11a) and
Lauren Brumbach (5g, 10a) and back
Bridget Monighan (5g, 1a), who is also the reigning CC Defensive Player of the Week. Leading scorer
Cate Cusack (16g, 3a) earned second-team all-CC honors, as did back
Nicole Vasiliu (1g, 3a). Forwards
Kirsten Martzall (6g, 2a),
Kelsey Miller (4g, 4a), and
Mandi Albright (5g, 1a) have been key drivers of the offense.
Chloe Baro has a 2.00 GAA and .730 save percentage.
Elizabethtown Quick Look
Led by CC Player of the Year Nadine Yunginger (5g, 16a), the Blue Jays have had a standout season at 13-5 overall. First-team all-CC pick Taylor Alwine (6g, 7a) leads the team in goals along with Kendra Hudson (6g, 2a), but the Blue Jays have an offense with eight players scoring three or more goals this year. Defense has been the team's hallmark, led by all-CC selection Samantha Earle, as they've allowed just 7.6 shots and 1.4 goals per game. Lindy Hamp has a 1.65 GAA. They've allowed just nine second-half goals this year - two to the Dutchmen.
The Other Side of the Bracket
In the other semifinal, #1 seed Messiah hosts #4 seed Arcadia, at 4 p.m. on Friday . Arcadia beat #5 seed Stevenson in the quarterfinal, 6-2.
What's Ahead
The winners of tonight's semifinals meet for the championship on Sunday at the higher seed, at a time to be determined.
Men's Soccer
[3] Lebanon Valley (12-4-2, 5-3-1 CC) at [2] Elizabethtown (9-6-3, 7-1-1 CC)
Friday, Nov. 2 | 7 p.m. | Ira R. Herr Field
How They Got Here
Both teams received byes to the semifinals thanks to their top-three seedings. E-town had a good run through conference play, going 7-1-1 to earn the second seed, and LVC is the third seed at 5-3-1.
The Regular Season Meeting
LVC and E-town battled to a 1-1 draw on Oct. 20.
Cam Alexander scored in the 47th minute on a volleyed cross from six yards out, but the Blue Jays' Kristopher Davis equalized in the 67th minute to earn a deserved draw. Both goalies stole the show in overtime, as
James Clements made six saves overall and counterpart Eric Carr had 10 stops.
LVC Quick Look
The Dutchmen have been led by CC Rookie of the Year
Cam Alexander, who has had an electric freshman season with 14 goals and two assists, including four gamewinners. First-team all-CC back
Kelly Hess has led the defense, and he also has three goals, and midfielder
Stephen Simonian (3g, 1a) also earned all-CC honors.
Andrew Cooper is second on the team with five goals and three assists, including a pair from the spot, and freshman
Greg Figueroa has worked his way into the starting lineup with two goals and five assists at forward.
Octavio Romero has also scored three times, and
Travis Miller is second on the team with four assists. Defensively,
James Clements has been solid in goal with a 1.21 GAA and .807 save percentage to go with four shutouts.
Elizabethtown Quick Look
CC coach of the year Skip Roderick has put a balanced offense on the field this year, with 14 different Blue Jays scoring a goal in 2012. Zach Lee's seven strikes leads the team, ahead of Ross Withrow (4g, 4a) and Adriano Maneo (4g, 3a). Dylan Sisler has also been a key bench contributor with three goals and two assists. Defensively, Eric Carr has a .776 save percentage and 1.26 GAA; E-town holds opponents to a 1.17 GAA, but opponents outshoot then 15.4-13.9 per game.
The Other Side of the Bracket
Alvernia will visit top-seeded Messiah at 8 p.m. in the other semifinal. Fourth-seeded Alvernia beat fifth-seeded Arcadia 1-0 in the quarterfinal earlier this week.
What's Ahead
The winners of tonight's semifinals meet for the championship on Sunday at the higher seed, at a time to be determined.
