NCAA Tournament Preview: Women's Soccer Set for Third Round in PA

11/17/2023 2:46:00 PM | By: JCUSID

The Blue Streaks will play in Grantham, Pennsylvania this weekend.

GRANTHAM, PA -- For the first time ever, John Carroll Women's Soccer is set to play in the Round of 16.

The Blue Streaks are in the midst of a magical season, making the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001. Last weekend's action cemented the specialness of the season.

John Carroll has a chance to keep the captivating campaign going on Saturday, facing Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the Third Round on Saturday at 1:30 pm.

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The Blue Streaks carry a 15-1-5 record on the season, unbeaten since the season opener on September 1. On Sunday, Michael Marich's side avenged the lone loss, toppling #8 Case Western Reserve, 1-0, at DiSanto Field. That conquest followed a 3-0 domination of Cortland on Saturday for JCU's first NCAA postseason win.

The Engineers, meanwhile, carry a #14 ranking in Division III. MIT sports a 21-3-1 overall mark, fresh off dominant victories over College of Mount Saint Vincent, 3-1, and University of Southern Maine, 4-1, in the First and Second Rounds of the NCAA Tournament in Cambridge last weekend. The Engineers previously won the NEWMAC (New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference) Championship over Babson College, 5-0. Martin Desmarais guides the Engineers, standing as MIT's winningest coach in program history, with a 231-60-35 record in 15 seasons.

MIT is battle-tested, claiming the most victories in D-III this year. The Engineers carry a 7-game winning streak and having won 16 of 18. Guided by NEWMAC Player of the Year Megan Rowlett, who finished the year with 46 points, the Engineers have one of the most prolific offenses around. MIT stands sixth in D-III with 75 goals, averaging three goals per game. Meanwhile, the Engineer defense has allowed only 18 goals all season and enters the weekend with 13 shutouts on the season. The Engineer backline is anchored by NEWMAC Defensive Player of the Year, Julia Chen.

This is MIT's 12th NCAA Tournament appearance. The Engineers boast a 12-7-5 record in the big show, with the team's best finish occurring in 2021 with an Elite Eight appearance.

Meanwhile, the Blue Streaks are in the midst of one of the program's best years of all time. One of the stories of the season has been fantastic play by the freshman in cage, Madeline Martin Kosier. The OAC Goalkeeper of the Year and OAC Freshman of the Year sports fantastic numbers, with 120 saves, a 0.71 goals against average, and a .889 save percentage. The Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin grad has already grabbed the program record for wins, and is aiming for the program mark for shutouts. Kosier is tied with Kelly Spitaleri for the honor with nine shutouts. The play in front of her has been marvelous, too. First Team All-OAC pick Kathryn Shaffer has been vital, as been fellow All-OAC selection Gabriella Walter, along with one-time OAC Athlete of the Week Brooke Kelly. Plenty of others have contributed, too.

The JCU attack has been fantastic all year long. The team's leading scorer, Madyson Rosado, has done much of the damage, with a team-high 13 goals and a point in 10 of her last 11 matches. Emily Patrzyk has followed up an OAC Freshman of the Year campaign with a sensational sophomore season, too. But it has been a team effort this season, with 11 different Blue Streaks finding twine this year.

The victor of John Carroll vs. MIT will advance to play in the Quarterfinals on Sunday, meeting the winner of #4 Amherst and pod host #5 Messiah. Sunday's match will begin at 1 pm.

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