Jennifer Penney

Sid Conner drop kicks the ball in the team’s home game against Carnegie Mellon. (Photo by Clara Richards | Student Life)

Last weekend, the WashU women’s soccer team won both matches in their first two rounds of the DIII NCAA Championship, prevailing past St. Catherine University in the first round and Wartburg College in the round of 32. In doing so, they now look ahead to a clash with UAA for Carnegie Mellon in the Sweet 16. 

In the game against St. Catherine’s, WashU had a phenomenal start to the game and their postseason run, evident by a goal within the first 10 minutes. Right before the clock struck double digits, seniors Riley Alvarez and Maggie Brett connected after Brett played a perfect pass into the feet of Alvarez, who finished confidently, putting the Bears in the lead. In the 26th minute, Sofia Campbell netted for St. Catherine to equalize the game thanks to Amanda Elton’s assistance. The game ended in a draw, 1-1, but due to the playoff format, extra time followed. If nothing occurred, then penalties would determine a winner.

However, WashU made sure that penalties were not an option and won the game at the very end of the overtime. First-year Grace Ehlert scored a header on a cross from a free kick taken by Jess Greven with under three minutes left in the second overtime to break the deadlock and give WashU a 2-1 lead they would hold onto until the final whistle blew.

Moving onto Wartburg in the round of 32, the women needed victory to sustain their playoff run when a loss would send them home early. But, again, the Bears ensured that winning was the only possible outcome, leaving Wartburg with a 3-1 victory.

Following her eleventh goal on the season, senior Maggie Brett gave the Bears the lead just under 20 minutes into the game. Despite this, Wartburg would claw themselves back into action with a strike from Gabby Corday to equalize the game just under 15 minutes later. Despite these two first-half goals, sophomore Meryl McKenna scored the ultimate winning goal just 5 minutes after Wartburg had equalized.

Going into the second half, the Bears led 2-1, hoping for a third goal to push them further out in front. And the goal came by way of Brett, fully shutting down Wartburg’s hopes of a comeback.

Following the games, Head Coach Jim Conlon noted that the team battled all weekend. “They are playing to each other,” he said. “They play hard regardless of what we’re asking them to do on the field. They’re fueled by having another opportunity to play with each other.”

With a Sweet 16 matchup looming against Carnegie Mellon this weekend, the Bears will look to keep the momentum going as they vie for the DIII Championship.