Scouting the NCAA Division II women’s soccer national semifinalists
Site: Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Stadium, Pensacola, Fla.
THURSDAY’S SEMIFINALS
Bridgeport vs. Columbus State, 9 a.m.
Western Washington vs. Grand Valley State, noon
SATURDAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Semfinal winners, 10 a.m.
Bridgeport
Record: 21-1-1
Location: Bridgeport, Conn.
Enrollment: 2,835
Conference (record): East Coast Conference (8-0-1, first)
Division II semifinal appearances: First
National titles: None
Coach: Magus Nilerud (17th seasons, 208-96-19)
Road to semifinals: Beat LIU Post 1-0, No. 12 Adelphi 2-1, East Stroudburg 2-0
Leading scorers: Jess Laszlo (22 goals, 6 assists), Hanne Nerby (6 goals, 10 assists), Flo Gamby (6 goals, 9 assists)
Goalkeeper: Jennifer Wendelius (20 games, 7 goals against, 18-1-1, 12 shutouts)
Jess Laszlo scored a pair of second-half goals in the quarterfinal to extend the fifth-ranked Purple Knights’ unbeaten streak to 17.
Columbus State
Record: 21-2-1
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Enrollment: 25,970
Conference (record): Peach Belt Conference (10-0-1, first)
Division II semifinal appearances: First
National titles: None
Coach: Jay Entlich (12th season, 182-45-21)
Road to semifinals: Beat No. 16 North Georgia 2-1, No. 13 Carson Newman 4-1, No. 4 Barry 2-0
Leading scorers: Nicole Corcione (15 goals, 13 assists), Olivia Jarrell (16 goals, 4 assists), Chelse Person (8 goals, 14 assists)
Goalkeeper: Maylyn Parsons (24 games, 16 goals against, 20-2-1, 5 shutouts).
The third-ranked Cougars have a 20-game unbeaten streak and had six players selected to the All-Southeast Region squad.
Western Washington
Record: 21-1-1
Location: Bellingham
Enrollment: 15,060
Conference (record): Great Northwest Athletic Conference (11-0-1, first)
Division II semifinal appearances: Second
National titles: None
Coach: Travis Connell (13th season, 178-63-25)
Road to semifinals: Beat Seattle Pacific 1-0, No. 23 Azusa Pacific 1-0, No. 6 Dallas Baptist 3-1
Leading scorers: Catherine Miles (13 goals, 4 assists), Gabriella Pelogi (9 goals, 5 assists), Savanna Moorehouse (4 goals, 10 assists)
Goalkeeper: Ashley Haden (22 games, 9 goals against, 20-1-1, 10 shutouts)
The second-ranked Vikings enter on a 20-game unbeaten streak, as they make their second national semifinal appearance in three years.
Grand Valley State
Record: 21-1-1
Location: Allendale, Mich.
Enrollment: 25,094
Conference (record): Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (12-0-0, first)
Division II semifinal appearances: Ninth
National titles: Four (2008, ’09, ’13, ’14)
Coach: Jeff Hosler (second season, 43-3-3)
Road to semifinals: Beat Quincy 6-0, No. 14 Bellarmine 2-1, No. 8 Central Missouri 1-1 (3-2 SO)
Leading scorers: Martin Corby (23 goals, 16 assists), Kendra Stauffer (14 goals, 10 assists), Gabriella Mentcotti (10 goals, eight assists)
Goalkeeper: Emily Maresh (19 games, 8 goals against, 17-1-1, 12 shutouts)
The top ranked Lakers also enter on a 20-game unbeaten streak, as they appear in the national semifinals for a seventh straight year.
This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 6:06 PM with the headline "Scouting the NCAA Division II women’s soccer national semifinalists."