Where the WashU teams stand with playoffs on the horizon

| Senior Sports Editor
A soccer player wearing a white uniform and the number 4 extends his left arm behind him as he avoids a player in blue on the ground. Some players stand on the sidelines behind him.

Junior Sergio Rivas steps over a North Park defender earlier this year. Both soccer teams take on Chicago Saturday afternoon, while football takes on conference leader North Central. (Photo by Jamie Nicholson/Student Life)

With some teams finishing their regular seasons this weekend and the rest soon to finish, I thought it would be helpful to look at where each team currently stands and what needs to happen for them to make the playoffs. 

No. 6 Women’s Soccer: 13-1-1, playoffs clinched

The Bears have already captured the University Athletic Association title for the sixth straight year and secured their spot in the playoffs. Now it is just a matter of where they will be seeded. After suffering their first loss over the weekend, a quality win against No. 16 University of Chicago would get them back on the right foot (and back near the top of the rankings) heading into the NCAA tournament. 

Saturday vs. Chicago at 4 p.m. on Francis Olympic Field

No 3. Men’s Soccer: 11-2-1, clinch UAA and playoffs with win vs. Chicago

Men’s soccer is having their best season in years. The Bears have a chance to win the UAA for the first time since 1999 — with a win against Chicago, they lock it up, and with it a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2016. 

Saturday vs. Chicago at 7 p.m. on Francis Olympic Field

Football: 6-2, seeking at-large bid

With No. 1 North Central, Saturday’s opponent, essentially having clinched the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin already, the football team needs to acquire one of the three at-large bids to get into the playoffs. First-year head coach Aaron Keen has led the Bears to a strong season so far. With two more games before their selection date on Nov. 14, WashU needs to go at least 1-1 to have a shot at the postseason. 

Saturday vs. North Central at 1 p.m. on Francis Olympic Field

Volleyball: 16-8, need to win UAA championship to get bid

It’s been a bit of a disappointing season for the volleyball team. After starting out at No. 18 in week one, the team has dropped out of the top-25 and has suffered some heartbreaking losses at the hands of their UAA rivals. If they want a playoff spot, the likely only way is to win the UAA championship, which requires beating three top-25 teams, all of whom they lost to earlier in the season. Fingers crossed.  

UAA championships start Friday in Cleveland

Cross Country: Dependent on NCAA regionals

For the seventh consecutive year, the No. 3 WashU women’s cross country team clinched the UAA championship; four team members all made XC All-UAA 1st Team; and the coaching staff won the UAA Women’s Coaching Staff of the Year — in short, it has been another standard season for the team. The No 14. men’s team has also excelled, placing second at the UAA Championship. Both teams will run in the Red/White Invitational this weekend before leaving for NCAA Midwest Regionals, Nov. 13th. At the regionals, they have the chance to qualify for the NCAA National Championship, the ultimate prize they’ve sought all season.

Hussein Amuri contributed research.

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