The Pitt-Greensburg women's soccer team made program history when they clinched the top seed for the upcoming AMCC Women's Soccer Championship Tournament. The Bobcats finished the regular season without a loss, as they went 9-0-1 in AMCC action and secured home field advantage throughout the conference playoffs. First round games kick off this Saturday when #3 Mount Aloysius College hosts #6 Franciscan University and #5 Penn State Altoona will travel to #4 D'Youville College. #1 Pitt-Greensburg and #2 Penn State Behrend will each receive first round byes.
Top-seeded Pitt-Greensburg (17-0-1, 9-0-1 AMCC) enters the tournament as the #1 seed for the first time in program history and will be looking for their first conference title. The Bobcats have dominated the offensive stats all season, as freshman F Ashley Lucas has recorded a conference-leading 22 goals with teammate Tiffany Michalek ranked right behind her with 17. Lucas also leads the AMCC with 11 assists and 55 points, while Michalek is once again right behind her with seven assists and 41 points, ranking her second in both categories, as well. Pitt-Greensburg is just as dominant on the defensive side, as sophomore GK Lauren Yoder leads the league with a .938 save percentage, giving up only five goals on the season, and recording a staggering 0.29 goals-against average.
Defending champion, and winners of 14 conference titles overall, is second-seed Penn State Behrend (9-6-2, 8-1-1 AMCC). The Lions are led on the offensive side by sophomore, and former AMCC Newcomer & Offensive Player of the Year, Brenna McGuire. McGuire ranks third in the conference with 15 goals and 35 points, while D Taylor Mealie is tied for fourth with six assists. Lion GK Madi Jones ranks third with 12 goals against and a 0.97 goals-against average.
#3 Mount Aloysius College (10-3-4, 5-2-2 AMCC) brings a balanced attack to the tournament, as Kourtney Walls has scored seven goals and Maddie Doyle has added six. Sam Torrenti has also contributed to the cause by recording six assists. Keeper Lauren Davey has recorded an .844 save percentage, while only giving up 10 goals and earning a 0.76 goals-against average.
Entering the tournament as the #4 seed is D'Youville College (9-5-2, 6-2-2 AMCC). Forward Makenna Magee leads the Spartan offense with 11 goals, which ranks her fourth in the conference. Forward Cassandra Brooks has also chipped in with five assists on the season. Between the pipes is GK Laurie Poeller who ranks second the league with 117 saves and an .848 save percentage.
Penn State Altoona (7-8-2, 5-4-1 AMCC) enters the tournament as the #5 seed. Leading the Lady Lion offense is sophomore F Sadie McConnell, who has scored nine goals this season, while Kierra Irwin leads Altoona, and is tied for second in the conference, with seven assists. GK Kaitlyn Harmon has recorded 76 saved on the year and has a .768 save percentage.
Rounding out the field is #6 Franciscan (8-6-2, 4-3-2 AMCC). The Barons also enter the tournament with a balanced offense, as F Kaitrin O'Leary leads the way with six goals, and Sarah Cocozza and Emma Cross have added five a piece. GK Marita Ostrich has made 86 saves with an .804 save percentage and a 1.19 goals-against average.
First round games will be played on Saturday, November 2, with the top two seeds receiving byes. The semifinals will take place on Wednesday, November 6, with the championship game on Saturday, November 9. The AMCC champion will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, with the national championship to be played at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro on December 6-7.
Please see the AMCC Fall Championship Page for more details.