As the home to several of the overlooked contenders, region four of the bracket, led by Virginia, could end up producing the winner.

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No. 1 Virginia (12-3-4) - 1.95 goals per game (48th ranked), .728 goals allowed per game (28th ranked)

TDS Top 100 Players: No. 7 Laney Rouse, No. 16 Lia Godfrey, No. 24 Tatum Galvin, No. 82 Maggie Cagle

TDS Top 100 Freshmen: No. 16 Liv Rademaker

All-Conference Selections: Lia Godfrey, Maggie Cagle, Laney Rouse, Addison Halpern, Liv Rademaker

Last Appearance: 2024

Total Appearances: 37th

Head Coach: Steve Swanson (26th season)

Offensive Leader: Lia Godfrey (10G, 4A)

     + Top 50 defense and offense

     + Victoria Safradin can make world class saves

     + Lia Godfrey set piece brilliance

     + Experienced backline

     - Two wins from last eight 

Thanks to a stellar start to the year, Virginia was able to earn the No. 1 seed despite winning just two of the final eight matches. The Cavaliers will look to their undefeated 12-game start as a guideline of what they are capable of.

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No. 2 Duke (13-4-1) - 2.56 goals per game (12th ranked), 1.167 goals allowed per game (142nd ranked)

TDS Top 100 Players: No. 10 Mia Minestrella, No. 31 Kat Rader, No. 52 Cameron Roller

TDS Top 100 Freshmen: No. 9 Avery Oder, No. 17 Lexi Coughlin, No. 27 Daya King

All-Conference Selections: Mia Minestrella, Kat Rader, Carina Lageyre, Cameron Roller, Daya King, Avery Oder

Last Appearance: 2024

Total Appearances: 30

Head Coach: Kieran Hall (1st season)

Offensive Leader: Mia Minestrella (12G, 4A) & Kat Rader (10G, 8A)

     + High caliber offense

     + Just one loss from 11 home games

     + Seven wins from last eight

     - One win from five in mid-September

     - Struggles against top 25 opposition

Duke has done well to maintain high standards despite the retirement of the legendary Robbie Church. The postseason will be where Kieran Hall is judged and a two seed plus a loaded roster could be the catalyst for a College Cup run.

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No. 3 Kansas (14-5-3) - 2.05 goals per game (41st ranked), 1.136 goals allowed per game (132nd ranked)

TDS Top 100 Players: No. 46 Caroline Castans

All-Conference Selections: Caroline Castans, Lexington Watts, Jillian Gregorski, Kate Langfelder

Last Appearance: 2024

Total Appearances: 11

Head Coach: Nate Lie (2nd season)

Offensive Leader: Lexington Watts (10G, 4A)

     + Back to back Big 12 tournament finals

     + Top 50 offense

     + 15 different goal scorers

     - Lost Big 12 final

     - Below average defensive record

The Jayhawks have a playing style built for the post-season, look no further than their trip to two straight Big 12 conference finals despite finishing outside of the top five both years. That high-energy, press-heavy style could lay the foundation for a deep playoff run.

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No. 4 Washington (13-2-6) - 1.48 goals per game (124th ranked), .613 goals allowed per game (14th ranked)

TDS Top 100 Freshmen: No. 11 Maylen Montoya

All-Conference Selections: Kolo Suliafu, Alex Buck, Hailey Baumann, Jadyn Holdenreid, Maya Loudd, Kelsey Branson, Anna Menti, Maylen Montoya

Last Appearance: 2024

Total Appearances: 17

Head Coach: Nicole Van Dyke (6th season)

Offensive Leader: Jadyn Holdenried (7G, 5A)

     + Did the Big Ten double

     + Top 15 ranked defense

     + One loss from the last 14

     - Only eight different goal scorers

     - Below average offense

The Huskies got as favorable a region as possible as a low scoring team grouped with other low scoring teams. That could help Washington turn their incredible defensive foundation into a College Cup run.

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No. 5 Arkansas (9-4-4) - 1.94 goals per game (51st ranked), 1.353 goals allowed per game (202nd ranked)

TDS Top 100 Players: No. 78 Avery Wren

TDS Top 100 Freshmen: No. 83 Vailana Tu’ua

All-Conference Selections: Kennedy Ball, Bella Field, Vailaina Tu’ua, Makenzie Malham, Avery Wren

Last Appearance: 2024

Total Appearances: 12

Head Coach: Colby Hale (14th season)

Offensive Leader: Vailana Tu’ua (5G, 3A)

     + Set piece dominance

     + Two losses from last 13

     + Several eye catching results

     - Defense has struggled all year

     - No go-to goal scorers

Set pieces remain a cheat code for Arkansas, which offers an x-factor for post season play. The achilles heel is a defense that has kept just two clean sheets from the last 12.

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No. 6 Louisville (13-4-2) - 2.68 goals per game (7th ranked), .632 goals allowed per game (17th ranked)

TDS Top 100 Players: No. 13 Amelia Swinarski, No. 42 Karsyn Cherry

TDS Top 100 Freshmen: No. 91 Ella Bard

All-Conference Selections: Karsyn Cherry, Amelia Swinarsky, Emerson Jennings

Last Appearance: 2019

Total Appearances: 7

Head Coach: Karen Ferguson-Dayes (26th season)

Offensive Leader: Amelia Swinarski (9G, 10A)

     + Top 20 ranked offense and defense

     + 15 different goal scorers

     - No wins against five nationally ranked team

Undefeated at home despite laying in the loaded ACC, Louisville has the potential to make a run in the tournament. What will be a hindrance is an away record where the Cards have won just three of eight. Along with a failure to defeat some of the best teams in the country when given the opportunity.

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No. 7 UCF (11-3-5) - 1.47 goals per game (126th ranked), .789 goals allowed per game (35th ranked)

TDS Top 100 Players: No. 80 Jada Silvest

TDS Top 100 Freshmen: No. 58 Tyra Eriksen

All-Conference Selections: Liz Worden, Genesis Perez Watson, Honoka Hamano, Maria Tregansin, Rajanah Reed

Last Appearance: 2022

Total Appearances: 23rd

Head Coach: Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak (13th season)

Offensive Leader: Liz Worden (7G, 9A)

     + Strong defensive standing

     + Return to the NCAA tournament

     + Perez Watson is a goalkeeping star

     - Nine goal scorers

     - Bellow average offense

The Knights may not have a potent offense but Perez Watson in goal, along with a formidable backline, gives them an opportunity in every match. At some point the Big 12 side will need to prove they can score when needed to make a tournament run.

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No. 8 Penn State (9-7-3) - 1.84 goals per game (65th ranked), 1.211 goals allowed per game (155th ranked)

TDS Top 100 Players: No. 51 Aubrey Kulpa, No. 88 Riley Gleason

TDS Top 100 Freshmen: No. 23 Hannah Jordan, No. 86 Lilly Burger

All-Conference Selections: Kaitlyn MacBean, Amelia Whit, Aubrey Kulpa, Riley Gleason, Bella Ayscue, Keira Kemmerley

Last Appearance: 2024

Total Appearances: 31

Head Coach: Erica Dambach (19th season)

Offensive Leader: Aubrey Kulpa (8G, 6A)

     + Two wins from the last five

     + Four players with more five or more goals

     - 4-4 away record

     - Leaky defense

The Nittany Lions are having a down year by their lofty standards as a young roster acclimates to college soccer. This could be one of those postseasons that may end early but sets the template for monumental success in the following years.

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No. 9 Army (14-5-2) - 2.29 goals per game (17th ranked), 1.286 goals allowed per game (184th ranked)

TDS Top 100 Freshmen: No. 92 Sophia Henry

All-Conference Selections: Brigid Duffy, Sophia Henry, Jordan Follenweider, Bella Conti, Grace Pohlidal, Sabrina Rogers, Camryn Silvestro, Daisy West

Last Appearance: 2011

Total Appearances: 3

Head Coach: Tracy Chao (5th season)

Offensive Leader: Brigid Duffy (15G, 4A)

     + Brigid Duffy dynamic playmaking

     + High scoring team in a region of low scoring offenses

     + Ended 14 year drought

     - Weak non-conference schedule

     - Reliant on several underclassmen stars

     - Roster and staff inexperienced in NCAA tournament

Army is as fun to watch as any team in the country, boasting a high-scoring offense filled with dynamic playmakers. The primary challenge will be how an inexperienced staff and roster navigates their first NCAA tournament match in 14 years.

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No. 10 Maine (6-7-4) - 1.29 goals per game (181st ranked), 1.437 goals allowed per game (225th ranked)

All-Conference Selections: Luise Reinwald, Elena Barenberg

Last Appearance: 2023

Total Appearances: 3

Head Coach: Scott Atherley (27th season)

Offensive Leader: Julie Lossius (3G, 2A), Emma Nicholson (2G, 4A), Jordane Pinette (3G, 2A)

     + Gritty conference tournament win

     - Weak non-conference schedule

     - Started the season with just two wins from eleven

     - Offensive and defensive struggles

Somehow, someway, the Black Bears squeezed into the NCAA tournament after winning the America East title. As one of few teams to enter with a losing record, Maine faces a steep climb to win a tournament match.

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No. 11 Kentucky (12-4-4) - 2.1 goals per game (30th ranked), .791 goals allowed per game (37th ranked)

TDS Top 100 Freshmen: No. 18 Gabrielle Poretto, No. 21 Khadijah Cisse

All-Conference Selections: Grace Hoytink, Tanner Strickland, Gabi Poretto

Last Appearance: 2024

Total Appearances: 13

Head Coach: Troy Fabiano (4th season)

Offensive Leader: Catherine Rapp (7G, 6A)

     + Top 50 defense and offense

     + Five players with four or more goals

     - All four losses were to NCAA tournament qualifiers

     - One win from five away games

The Wildcats made a habit of beating the teams they were supposed to in the fall. And while that did get them to the NCAA tournament, the four losses to fellow qualifiers suggests the team is not ready to make a run. Add an away record of just one win from five and Kentucky may struggle to advance past the first round.

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No. 12 Dartmouth (11-3-4) - 1.78 goals per game (75th ranked), .5 goals allowed per game (6th ranked)

TDS Top 100 Freshmen: No. 89 Anna Leschly

All-Conference Selections: Anna Leschly, Ola Goebel, Stephanie Lathrop, Ellie Davidson, Hailey Rorick

Last Appearance: 2005

Total Appearances: 11

Head Coach: Taylor Schram (3rd season)

Offensive Leader: Stephanie Lathrop (9G, 4A)

     + Stingy defense

     + Ended 20 year drought

     + Lathrop match-winning qualities

     - Offense can struggle to score at times

Dartmouth is back in the tourney after two decades, upsetting Princeton to win the NCAA tournament. A sixth ranked defense facing an Arkansas team that can struggle for goals could add up to an upset.

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No. 13 Montana (12-3-5) - 1.63 goals per game (100th ranked), .566 goals allowed per game (10th ranked)

All-Conference Selections: Ally Henrikson, Ashlyn Dvorak, Maddie Ditta, Chloe Seelhoff, Makena Smith, Reagan Brisendine

Last Appearance: 2021

Total Appearances: 7

Head Coach: Chris Citowicki (8th season)

Offensive Leader: Chloe Seelhoff (7G, 6A)

     + Top 10 ranked defense

     + Undefeated over last nine

     - Best attacker Seelhoff out with injury

     - Won just two of six road games

Montana did well to reach the NCAA tournament despite top scorer Seelhoff missing the last part of the season. Now the Grizzlies travel to Washington in a clash of two of the best defenses in the country. If Ashlyn Dvorak is at her best in goal, then an upset could be possible.

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No. 14 California Baptist (12-8-2) - 1.32 goals per game (170th ranked), 1.337 goals allowed per game (200th ranked)

All-Conference Selections: Mikayla O’Brien, Summer Allen, Anja Jestrovic, Ava Westlund, Jess Ramirez, Katrina Marsh, Kandace Koerth, Mikaela Burchell

Last Appearance: 2024

Total Appearances: 2

Head Coach: Kristen St. Clair (19th season)

Offensive Leader: Ava Westlund (9G, 5A)

     + Heroic run to WAC tournament title

     + Ava Westlund playmaking

     - Three wins from 11 on the road

     - Defensive and attacking struggles

California Baptist did the impossible to even reach this stage. Starting with a last minute equalizer in the semi final, then avenging a 7-1 regular season loss by defeating Utah Valley in the conference final. Recovering from that roller coaster will be crucial for the team to have a chance against the Jayhawks.

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No. 15 Elon (11-2-7) - 1.8 goals per game (70th ranked), .636 goals allowed per game (19th ranked)

All-Conference Selections: Grace Gelhaus, Gabby Hoschek, Isa Murdock, Katie Bisgrove, Miranda Dumornay

Last Appearance: 2020

Total Appearances: 3

Head Coach: Neil Payne (8th season)

Offensive Leader: Isa Murdock (7G, 6A)

     + Bisgrove in elite goalkeeping form

     + Undefeated through last nine

     - Have not scored more than one in a match over last four games

     - Weak non-conference schedule

With Bisgrove playing as well as she is, Elon cannot be ruled out of any match. That said, a game versus an explosive Duke offense that has had a week of rest is likely a climb too steep.

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No. 16 High Point (5-9-5) - 1.05 goals per game (250th ranked), 1.092 goals allowed per game (114th ranked)

All-Conference Selections: Bella Burr, Kasey Resker, Sabba Haghgoo, Joellie Giquinto

Last Appearance: 2021

Total Appearances: 8

Head Coach: Aaron McGuiness (4th season)

Offensive Leader: Bella Burr (5G)

     + Multiple heroic performances to win conference tournament

     - Defensive and offensive struggles

     - Fewest wins of any NCAA qualifier

     - Did not win any of eight non-conference games.

High Point should be applauded for their miraculous recovery to win the Big South tournament title. Regardless of what happens against Virginia, that run will go down in history.