Women's Soccer Semifinals Set for Friday

11/2/2016 4:00:00 PM

Kelly McCarthy

'BOSTON, Mass. (November 2, 2016) -- The 2016 CAA Women’s Soccer Championship continues on Friday, November 4 with semifinal play at Parsons Field. Second-seeded Drexel faces third-seeded James Madison at 2:00 p.m. followed by fifth-seeded William & Mary versus top-seeded Northeastern at 5:30 p.m. All games will be streamed live on CAA.tv and will be available on the CAA.tv Roku channel.

The winners will advance to the CAA Championship match, which is set for November 6 at 2:30 p.m. and airs live on the American Sports Network (ASN) as well as CAA.tv and the Roku channel.

No. 3 JAMES MADISON VS. NO. 2 DREXEL

Drexel (8-6-4; 4-2-3 CAA) is making its third CAA Championship appearance and first since 2014. The Dragons have been powered by junior transfer goalkeeper Christiana Ogunsami, who enters tournament action with a 0.84 GAA, nine shutouts, 101 saves, and a league-best .871 save percentage. Offensively, sophomores Vanessa Kara and Shaelyn McCarty are tied for the team lead with six goals apiece. The Dragons are the No. 2 seed for just the second time, with the last occurrence in 2012 when they were upset in PK’s by UNCW.

Defending CAA Champion James Madison (9-10-0; 5-4-0 CAA) advanced to the semifinals after knocking off No. 6 Seed College of Charleston, 1-0, in the quarterfinals. The Dukes have been paced by senior Ashley Herndon, who has 11 goals, including five game-winners, and 6 assists, for 28 points this season.

The Dragons and the Dukes have never matched up in the CAA Championship tournament. Drexel and James Madison squared off earlier this season on September 30 in Harrisonburg, Va. The Dragons picked up a 1-0 win thanks to a goal by McCarty and seven saves by Ogunsami.

If Drexel advances … The Dragons would be making their first-ever trip to the CAA Championship title game.

If JMU advances ... The Dukes would be making their second straight CAA Championship final appearance. JMU would be chasing its fifth CAA crown in nine title game appearances.

NO. 5 WILLIAM & MARY VS. NO. 1 NORTHEASTERN

Northeastern (12-6-1; 7-2-0 CAA) clinched its third CAA Regular Season Championship on the final day of the regular season with a 2-0 victory over James Madison. The Huskies are making their sixth consecutive CAA Championship tournament appearance and their third as the top seed. Sophomore Hannah Rosenblatt is third in the CAA in scoring this season, with 11 goals and four assists for 26 points. Senior Mackenzie Dowd patrols the backfield in front of goalkeeper Nathalie Nidetch, who has a 1.09 GAA with 90 saves this season.

William & Mary (10-7-2; 4-4-1 CAA) advanced to the CAA Championship semifinals after edging fourth-seeded UNCW, 5-4, in penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw. It is the sixth consecutive semifinal appearance for the Tribe. William & Mary has been led on offense by redshirt freshman Sarah Segan who has 10 goals and two assists for 22 points. Rachel Moore has added six goals and five assists. On defense, William & Mary relies on back Clara Logsdon while keeper Grace Smith has 1.12 GAA with 43 saves in 10 games.
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Friday evening’s contest is a rematch of the 2014 CAA Championship semifinal in which Northeastern clipped William & Mary, 4-0. The two teams also clashed in the 2013 semifinals with NU advancing 3-1 on penalty kicks. During the 2016 regular season, the Huskies edged the Tribe, 3-2, in overtime on Parsons Field with Carina Deandreis providing the game-winning strike.

If William & Mary advances ... The Tribe would be making their second straight appearance in the final and 12th overall. William & Mary would be seeking its 11th CAA title and its first since 2011.

If Northeastern advances ... The Huskies would be making their fourth overall appearance in the championship game. Northeastern would be seeking its fourth CAA title and first since 2014.

2016 CAA WOMEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday, October 30 – Quarterfinals (Home site of higher seed)
#3 James Madison 1, #6 College of Charleston 0
#5 William & Mary 2, #4 UNCW 2 (W&M advances on PKs, 5-4)

Friday, November 4 - Semifinals (Boston, Mass.)
#3 James Madison vs. #2 Drexel - 2:00 p.m. (Live on CAA.tv)
#5 William & Mary at #1 Northeastern – 5:30 p.m. (Live on CAA.tv)

Sunday, November 6 - Championship (Boston, Mass.)
CAA Title Game - 2:30 p.m. (Live on ASN)