WEST BABYLON, N.Y. – Six teams will compete for an East Coast Conference Women's Soccer Championship and the automatic bid into the NCAA Division II Championship that comes with it. With the expansion of the championship field to six teams from four, the ECC Women's Soccer Championship has added a First Round, which will kick off the tournament this Thursday, November 2.
Championship Central
Roberts Wesleyan (10-1-3, 6-0-2) is the No. 1 seed after winning the program's first-ever regular-season title this fall. The Redhawks allowed just one goal in eight conference matches, and anchoring the Roberts Wesleyan defense in goalkeeper Nicolette Knauf, who leads the ECC in goals against average (.436) and shutouts (nine) and sits second in save percentage (.850). The Redhawks receive a bye for the First Round and will host the winner of Thursday's First Round match-up between No. 4 Molloy and No. 5 Queens.
Daemen (8-4-3, 6-1-1) earns the other bye with the No. 2 seed and will host the winner of Thursday's First Round match-up between No. 3 Mercy and No. 6 D'Youville. The Wildcats own power numbers on both the offensive and defensive ends. Kylie Miranto leads the conference and ranks fifth nationally in points (36) and goals (16); the Daemen forward hits the back of the net an average of over once per contest (1.07), which puts her in the NCAA's top three for goals per match this year. In goal, Becca Schultz leads the ECC in save percentage (87.2 percent).
No. 3 Mercy (8-4-3, 5-1-2 ECC), the defending hosts No. 6 D'Youville (4-8-3, 3-4-1 ECC) on Thursday afternoon in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. The Mavericks enter the tournament as the defending champions after playing Molloy to a scoreless draw last season and advancing on penalty kicks (5-4) and have reached both of the last two ECC finals. Mercy and D'Youville played to a 1-1 draw back on September 16; Amiah Washington broke the score open for the Mavericks with a late goal in the 76th minute, but Izzy Deachman equalized with just 46 seconds left in regulation to guide the Saints to the draw. The offenses are led by forwards Ancku Dixson (Mercy, 13 points) and Laoise O'Haodha (D'Youville, 10 points), while goalkeeper Kamy Anaya has turned in six clean sheets for the Mavericks this fall.
No. 4 Molloy (8-4-5, 4-2-2 ECC) hosts No. 5 Queens (6-6-4, 3-3-2 ECC) on Thursday evening in Rockville Centre, N.Y. The Lions have reached the last three ECC finals and won the titles in 2019 and 2021. Molloy and Queens played to a scoreless draw back on October 21 as the defenses of Queens' Brianna Obregon, Gabrielle Christian, Ava Angiuli, Cassidy Pong, and Erin Kelly and Molloy's ECC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Sarah Tappeto, Joanna Mauceri, Natalia Piotrowski, Jackie Murphy, Shannon Kilian, and Elyse Muñoz allowed a combined three shots on goal for the entire 90 minutes of play. Kelly ranks second in goals against average (.839) and third in save percentage (84.1 percent) among ECC goalkeepers while Molly is home to three of the top five point scorers in the league with Olivia Ingenito (20), Tappeto (17), and Caitlin Kennedy (17).
Tickets for each game of the championship can be purchased in advance
here. Ticket prices will be $8 for general admission and $4 for senior citizens, students, and children ages 2-5. Children under two will be admitted for free. Ticket prices will increase to $10 for general admission and $5 for senior citizens, students, and children ages 2-5 beginning at midnight on the day of the game. In addition, cash will not be accepted so walkup tickets at the venue still must be purchased through the ECC website (QR code will be available at the gate).
For those not in attendance, all five matches of the championship will be broadcast on the ECC Network. Viewers can tune in at www.eccsportsnetwork.com or by downloading the ECC Network app. To download the app, search "ECC Network" on Apple or Android mobile devices or on Amazon Fire, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku streaming devices.
2023 East Coast Conference Women's Soccer Championship
First Round - Thursday, November 2
Game 1 – No. 3 Mercy vs. No. 6 D'Youville - Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. - 1:00 p.m.
Game 2 – No. 4 Molloy vs. No. 5 Queens - Rockville Centre, N.Y. - 7:00 p.m.
Semifinals – Sunday, November 5
Game 3 – No. 2 Daemen vs. Winner of Game 1 - Amherst, N.Y. - 1:30 p.m.
Game 4 – No. 1 Roberts Wesleyan vs. Winner of Game 2 - Rochester, N.Y. - 2:00 p.m.
Final – Sunday, November 12
Game 5 – TBA vs. TBA; site and time TBD by highest remaining seed