(SALEM, Va. — Sept. 14, 2023) California Lutheran University women's soccer is headed to the Final Four. The Regals face Tufts University in the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship semifinals on Thursday, November 30 at 12 p.m. PT.
The second game pits No. 8 Messiah College against No. 2 Washington University (Mo.). The winners will meet in the championship game on Saturday, December 2 at 9 a.m. PT.
Championship Info Page | Championship Bracket | Live Stream | Tickets
A Look at the Teams
Cal Lutheran – 18-1-5
The Regals defeated Carleton 3-2 in the first round Pomona-Pitzer 1-0 to move to sectional play. They defeated Hardin-Simmons 1-0 and advanced past No. 1 Christopher Newport 1-1, 4-3 on penalty kicks to make their first-ever Final Four appearance. The Regals boast six All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) players with Avery West tabbed Defensive Player of the Year. Ally Fisicaro, Eden Quiroz, and Isabella Veljacic joined West on the First Team and Savana Durr and Adriana Maroney were Second Team.
Veljacic leads the offense with nine goals and four assists. Ashley Escamilla is next with six goals and two assists and Quiroz has five goals and four assists. The offense is balanced and can threaten from anywhere with Elisa Shott having four goals and four assists and West having four goals and three assists. Maroney and Caitlyn Winter have two goals each and 11 more Regals have one goal. Anna Evenson keeps the offense moving with eight assists.
The defense has been superb with Durr, Fisicaro, Brynn McMahon, and West leading a stellar back line. Also seeing plenty of time on the defense is Madie Fahey and the Regals have 14 shutouts. The team has the best start in program history and has 18 wins for the first time since 2012. Logan Duford and Kelsey Slaugh have split time in goal. Duford is 10-1-3 with Slaugh at 7-0-1.
Messiah – 21-2
The Falcons defeated Westfield State 5-1 in the opening round and Williams 1-0 in the second. They knocked off Amherst 3-1 in the Sweet 16 and John Carroll 1-0 and are in their 15th Final Four. Jenna Skurcenski was the All-MAC Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year and Scott Frey was Coach of the Year. The Falcons had three earned First Team, four on Second Team, and one Honorable Mention.
Tufts – 11-5-4
The Jumbos moved past Franklin and Marshall in the first round 2-1 and The College of New Jersey 3-0 in the second. They took down Bowdoin 3-2 in the Sweet Sixteen and Rochester 1-0 in the Elite Eight to make their third Final Four. The Tufts earned one All-NESCAC First Team honoree and two on Second Team.
WashU – 17-1-3
The Bears defeated Maryville 2-0 in the first round and Sewanee 4-0 in the second round. They took down Calvin 4-1 and advanced past Wisconsin-La Crosse 4-4, 5-4 in penalty kicks to make their sixth Final Four appearance. The Bears garnered three All-Association First Team honors and two on Second Team.
