The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Women’s Soccer tournament continues this upcoming Saturday (November 23rd, 2024) with the four remaining teams set to play Semi Final and Final action at the University of Hartford’s Al-Marzook Field. With the field set, let’s look at the matchups playing next weekend.
Semi Final 1: 4. New Jersey City Gothic Knights vs 1. Hartford Hawks – Saturday, November 23rd @ 11 AM
The season kicks on for the one-seeded Hartford Hawks, after a 12-3-2 regular season, the Hawks continued their hot streak of form into the Conference of New England Playoffs, defeating Gordon College 6-0 in the CNE Playoff Final behind braces (two goal performances) from forwards Rebecca Opdenbrouw and Imani Jenkins
Entering the ECAC Tournament on a 10 Game win streak, the Hawks are outscoring opponents 48-3 over their past ten games.
After a 4-0-4 start to the regular season, The Gothic Knights of New Jersey City University (NJCU) struggled down the stretch, finishing their regular season 6-4-7. Regardless, NJCU made a run to the Semifinals of the New Jersey Athletic Conference playoffs before losing to NJAC champions TCNJ. NJCU enters the semi-final after an impressive 2-1 win over the 5. Juniata Eagles in the ECAC Quarterfinals, with Kyanah-Belle Jean-Louis’s first goal of the season was the difference maker in the contest.
NJCU enters with a very strong attack, 11 different players have scored for the Gothic Knights this season, with 5 of them having scored at least 5 goals.
Semi Final 2: 3. Pittsburgh-Greensburg Bobcats vs 2. Springfield College Pride – Saturday, November 23rd, Time TBA
The Pittsburgh-Greensburg Bobcats could have been top of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference, had Penn State Behrend not gone 8-0 in AMCC Play. The Bobcats enter Saturday’s contest with a 13-4-4 record, following their 2-1 win over 6. FDU Florham in the ECAC Quarterfinals.
Defense might be the name of the game for Pitt-Greensburg, as they went on a 6-game stretch without conceding a goal from October 9th to November 6th. Starting goalkeeper Paige John has conceded just 16 goals in 19 games this season, leading to an AMCC All-Conference Second Team nomination.
Offensively, the Bobcats were stellar this season, with 48 goals in their 21 games, led by AMCC All Conference First Teamer (3) Sarah Tonkovich, who scored the third most goals in the AMCC with 10. Tonkovich was not the only Bobcat to be named to the AMCC First Team, as freshman (17) Riley Gesinski’s 6 goals and 7 assists saw her named to the First Team and AMCC’s “Newcomer of the Year.” The Bobcats have a tough challenge with the two-seed: Springfield College Pride.
Entering the tournament with a 9-5-4 Record, the Springfield College Pride have not played since November 5th, when they lost 3-0 to Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the NEWMAC Quarterfinals. Regardless, Springfield’s 2nd place finish in the NEWMAC regular season was enough to see them be named as the number two seed in the ECAC Tournament.
Springfield showed out this season, with 5 players being named to NEWMAC All-Conference teams, including NEWMAC Newcomer of the Year: (7) Mia Salmon. Salmon led the Pride and the NEWMAC in goals this season, scoring 8 in 18 games. Alongside Salmon in the second team are forward Jen Walker (5 Goals, 6 assists) and midfielder Molly Baxter (3 Goals, 3 Assists).
The challenge for the Bobcats will be the goalie Taryn Ryan. The senior out of Holyoke, Mass, has made 75 saves this season in 19 games, averaging to just under four saves a game.
ECAC Final: Winner of Semi Final 1 vs Semi Final 2: Sunday November 24th, Time TBA
The ECAC Final kicks off just one day after the ECAC Semi Finals, and will feature the winners of 4. New Jersey City University Gothic Knights vs 1. University of Hartford Hawks and 3. University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg Bobcats vs 2. Springfield College Pride. The kickoff time for the Final has not been announced.
The ECAC Semifinal and Finals are coming to the University of Hartford. If you cannot make it to Al-Marzook Field, you can find the stream links to both games by clicking here.
