Women's DI Tournament Elite Eight Recap

Women's DI Tournament Elite Eight Recap
by Victor Olorunfemi
November 27, 2023

Read a recap covering everything you need to know from the Elite Eight of the women’s college soccer tournament.

Cardinals Keep Flying 

Stanford has found many different ways to win this season, and that trend continued on Friday night as the Cardinals defeated Nebraska 2-1 in overtime. Impressively, the backline limited NCAA top scorer Eleanor Dale to just three shots on target as she struggled to generate open looks through the afternoon. On the offensive end, Maya Doms won the game in the 5th minute of overtime after Sarah Weber snagged an equalizer with three minutes remaining in regulation. 

Cougars Roar Back 

In a comeback victory you would have seen or heard of by now, BYU scored four unanswered to shock North Carolina and move on to the College Cup. Two Annabella Folino strikes, a Brecken Mozingo goal curled in directly from a corner, and an Olivia Wade-Katoa game-winner did the job as the Cougars will ironically now travel to Cary, North Carolina, for the semifinal. 

Some Things Never Change 

Pittsburgh met up with Florida State for a third time this season, and for a third occasion, the Seminoles secured a victory. This time was 3-0 as Taylor Huff and Leah Pais scored penalty kicks, with Onyi Echegini scoring the last all within the span of the 63rd to 69th minute.  

Clemson Leaves it Late 

A dull Penn State-Clemson matchup sparked to life late as the Tigers opened the scoring in the 70th minute, followed by a Kaitlyn MacBean equalizer in the 73rd minute, setting up a Caroline Conti 84th-minute winner. It was a tight game between two well-organized defensive teams, as both sides did well to hold out for most of the evening. 

Florida State New Standard

With a fourth straight trip to the college cup and just four losses in those four seasons, it is clear that the Seminoles are the new gold standard for women’s college soccer. There have been a few different eras, such as North Carolina winning 16 titles in the 80s and 90s, Notre Dame reaching six Final Fours in seven years under Randy Waldrum between 2004 and 2010, Stanford winning the 2011 title in the midst of five straight College Cups, and now this one with Florida State. 

ACC Reigns Supreme 

For a second straight season, two ACC teams make it to the national semifinal as the conference continues to be the center of women’s college soccer. In fact, 2004 is the only time there has not been an ACC team in the College Cup. And with Stanford, another historic power, joining the conference next season, there is no questioning whether the dominance will continue for the foreseeable future.

The Unbeatens 

There have been three undefeated championship runs in the 21st century: North Carolina (2003), Portland (2005), and Stanford (2011). And with Stanford and Florida State on opposite sides of the bracket, there is a chance the championship game will see two unbeaten teams battle for the title.

Magic in Provo

The value of securing a high seed in the NCAA tournament cannot be understated, as Provo, Utah, spurred BYU on to a historic 4-3 comeback versus North Carolina with just 30 minutes remaining. The three-goal comeback tied the largest in NCAA tournament history, with the other occasion in 2003 when Florida overturned a deficit versus Ole Miss. And with the rest of the tournament on neutral ground, BYU finishes the season unbeaten in 13 games at South Field Stadium, undoubtedly one of the most intimidating in all of soccer.

Related Topics: Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Pacific 12
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