Stony Brook, William & Mary Advance to Semifinals of 2026 CAA Women’s Soccer Championship

Stony Brook, William & Mary Advance to Semifinals of 2026 CAA Women’s Soccer Championship

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Dylan Smith

CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
Game 1 – BOX SCORE | Game 1 - HIGHLIGHTS | Game 1 - PHOTO GALLERY
Game 2 – BOX SCORE | Game 2 - HIGHLIGHTS | Game 2 - PHOTO GALLERY


RICHMOND, Va. – No. 3 seeds Stony Brook (8-4-5) and William & Mary (5-7-5) advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 CAA Women’s Soccer Championship behind game-winning goals from their standout freshmen in 1-0 triumphs on Thursday.
 
For the first time since 2019, the two lower seeds in the opening round match advance to the CAA Semifinals.
 
The Seawolves will face North Division top seed Towson, while the Tribe will head to South Division No. 1 seed UNCW on Sunday. Both semifinal matchups will kick off at 1 p.m. on FloCollege.
 
Game 1: No. 3 William & Mary 1, No. 2 Elon 0



Freshman forward Ava Magnuson notched the game-winning goal in the 59th minute as No. 3 seed William & Mary secured a 1-0 victory over second-seeded Elon (9-4-5).
 
W&M goalkeeper Gwen Doughty matched a season-high eight saves. The Tribe also edged the Phoenix in corner kicks, 3-2.
 
Elon registered three shots in the first 13 minutes of the contest, including a chip attempt from Jordan Green just wide of the right post at 12:41. William & Mary goalkeeper Gwen Doughty started to see shot after shot be put on frame shortly after, turning away six attempts over the final 30 minutes of the first half to keep the game scoreless at the intermission.
 
The Tribe’s Magnuson came out flying to open the second half and nearly had a breakaway chance after splitting two defenders in open space. Elon keeper Naomi Person came off her line and prevented the shot attempt. The Phoenix’s Gabby Tirado nearly tapped home the game’s first goal after redirecting a cross from Grace Gelhaus just past the left post in the 55th minute.
 
Magnuson put the Tribe on the board in the 59th minute with the right-footed rocket into the back of the net. The freshman weaved around three defenders inside the 18-yard box and fired home her sixth goal of the season from inside the six.
 
Doughty kept the Phoenix at bay over the final 12 minutes, stopping Gelhaus and Ava Hellner before watching Magnuson run out the clock in the offensive third.
 
 
Game 2: No. 3 Stony Brook 1, No. 2 Hofstra 0
Freshman midfielder Juni Einarsson capitalized on her second goal of the season to help third-seeded Stony Brook secure a 1-0 victory over No. 2 seed Hofstra (6-7-5).


 
Maya Corbett and Emily Lemke provided an assist on the game’s lone goal, tallying their third and second helpers of the season, respectively.
 
Stony Brook controlled much of the first half by outshooting the Pride, 5-0. The Seawolves’ Hedvig Helling and Taylor Steinagel put the team’s lone two shot attempts on frame, both of which were corralled by Hofstra netminder Lilly Bailey.
 
The Seawolves picked up in the second half as Lisa Muller laced a shot on frame in the 56th minute.
 
The pressure continued to mount until Einarsson found twine in the 63rd minute. Lemke sent Corbett into open space near the top of the box, only to find Einarsson breaking free from her defender in the box. The freshman one-touched the feed and tucked it past the goalkeeper with her left foot for a 1-0 edge.
 
Hofstra stepped on the gas over the next 15 minutes and sent a plethora of cross attempts into the box. Stony Brook’s Jona Hennings remained composed and continued to push the ball out of danger, despite not logging a save in her eighth solo shutout of the season. The senior netminder continually came off her line and won several 50-50 balls in the crease to weather the Pride’s offensive storm down the stretch.
 
Thursday, Nov. 5 – First Round
G1: No. 3 William & Mary 1, No. 2 Elon 0
G2: No. 3 Stony Brook 1, No. 2 Hofstra 0
 
Sunday, Nov. 8 - Semifinals
G3: No. 3 William & Mary at No. 1 UNCW                      1 p.m.
G4: No. 3 Stony Brook at No. 1 Towson                           1 p.m.
 
Saturday, Nov. 14 / Sunday, Nov. 15 - Finals
G5: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4              TBD
 
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