BOSTON, Mass. – For the first time in program history, the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's soccer team has been named the top seed in the ECAC Division III New England Women's Soccer Tournament.
The top-seeded Leopards (16-2-2) will host Smith College (7-7-5) in a quarterfinal round contest on Wednesday (November 11) at 11:00 a.m. Other quarterfinal round matchups feature second-seeded Endicott (9-8-2) hosting seventh-seeded Emerson (11-6-1), third-seeded Elms (16-4-1) hosting sixth-seeded Curry (13-6-1), and fourth-seeded University of New England (11-7-0) playing host to fifth-seeded Framingham State (11-7-2).
Winners of the four quarterfinal contests will advance to the semifinals, which will be hosted by the highest remaining seed on Saturday. The winner of the Wentworth/Smith game will play the winner of the University of New England/Framingham State game, while the winner of the Endicott/Emerson game will square off against the winner of the Elms/Curry game. The championship match will be played on Sunday at Saturday's site.
ECAC HISTORY: Wednesday marks the first time in Wentworth's six ECAC Tournament appearances the Leopards will play a home game. The Leopards also earned ECAC Tournament berths in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2014 and are seeking their first tournament win.
LAST TIME OUT: Wentworth, the number two seed in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament, made its third straight trip to the CCC semifinals where the Leopards tied sixth-seeded Gordon, 0-0, before falling in penalty kicks, 4-2. Smith was the number seven seed in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Tournament and lost in the quarterfinals, 2-0, to second-seeded Wheaton.
ALL-TIME SERIES: Wednesday marks the first time these two programs have squared off against each other.
SCOUTING THE LEOPARDS: Both Wentworth's 16 wins and 12 shutouts established program records as the 11-game win streak was snapped in the tie against Gordon. Mary Annon leads the Black & Gold with 22 points, coming on seven goals and eight assists. Ali Leach has 17 points (seven goals, three assists), including five game-winning markers. Mykaela Scarpace and CCC Rookie of the Year Madyson Reno have 15 points apiece. Reno has seven goals and an assist while Scarpace has six goals and three assists. In goal Micaela Robinson is 14-2-2 with a 0.43 goals against average and six solo shutouts. As a team Wentworth has yielded just nine goals in 20 contests.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS: Making their first ECAC Tournament appearance since capturing the 2006 crown, Smith is led by Jordan Issacs who has 12 points (five goals, two assists). Jackie Foody has scored 10 points on four goals and two assists, and GiGi Ross has three goals and two assists for eight points. In net for the Pioneers, Camryn Biasin has a 3-5-4 record with a 1.07 goals against average and a pair of shutouts.
2015 ECAC DIVISION III NEW ENGLAND WOMEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Nov. 11
No. 8 Smith (7-7-5), vs. No. 1 Wentworth (16-2-1), 11:00 a.m.
No. 7 Emerson (11-6-1) vs. No. 2 Endicott (9-8-2), 7:00 p.m.
No. 6 Curry College (13-6-1) vs. No. 3 Elms (16-4-1), 6:00 p.m.
No. 5 Framingham State (11-7-2) vs. No. 4 University of New England (11-5-0), 2:00 p.m.
Semifinals – Saturday, Nov. 14 at Highest Remaining Seed
Semifinal #1: No. 1 Wentworth/No. 8 Smith winner vs. No. 4 University of New England /No. 5 Framingham State winner
Semifinal #2: No. 2 Endicott/No. 7 Emerson winner vs. No. 3 Elms/No. 6 Curry winner
Championship – Sunday, Nov. 15 at Highest Remaining Seed
Winner Semifinal #1 vs. Winner Semifinal #2