Women's Soccer NCAA Tournament Preview

ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT women's soccer team takes on host Babson in the NCAA Tournament first round on Saturday, (Nov. 11) at 1:00 p.m.

The winner will advance to play either Amherst or Maine Maritime in a second-round matchup, Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
 
 HOW THEY GOT HERE

• The Tigers finished the regular season 7-4-5 overall and earned the second seed in the Liberty League tournament with a 5-0-4 conference record
• After a first-round bye, the host Tigers defeated third seed Ithaca, 4-2  in the semifinals 
• The Tigers fell at top-seeded William Smith in Sunday's championship, 1-0
•  RIT was awarded one of 22 at-large bids in the NCAA Tournament to the 64 team field

 GUESS WHO'S BACK, BACK AGAIN

• The Tigers are making their second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance
• RIT hosted first and second-round games last season, defeating Johnson and Wales (R.I.), 3-1, before falling to Amherst (Mass.), 1-0
• This is the Tigers fifth NCAA tournament appearance, also competing in 2018, 2013 and 2012 tournaments

 TOP TIGERS

• Sophomore forward Elena Onodera leads the team with a career-high 15 points on six goals and three assists. Onodera was also named to the Liberty League All-Conference First Team
• Junior midfielder Olivia Harris was named second team all-conference after finishing second on the team with 13 points on four goals and five assists
• Senior midfielder Jessie Gomez landed first team all-conference honors after finishing third on the team with 12 points on five goals and two assists
• First-year forward Emma Pedro was named Liberty League Rookie of the Year. She scored three goals including the game-tying tallies in the, 1-1 tie against William Smith and, 1-1 tie against Skidmore during the regular season

 DEFENSIVE POWER

• Junior defender Amber Flynn leads the team with 1,596 minutes played, anchoring a defense that only allowed three goals in conference play during the regular season
• Sophomore goalkeeper Emily Sanchez recorded eight shutouts this season with a .745 save percentage and a 0.86 goals against average
• After allowing 10 goals in its first six games, RIT only allowed four goals in its final 10 games of the regular season, finishing 5-0-5 heading into the postseason

BABSON BEAVERS

• Babson earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament after losing to MIT, 5-0 in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Championship
• The Beavers qualified for their second NCAA Tournament in program history, entering the weekend with a 12-6-3 record 
• Babson averages 1.76 goals per game, outscoring its opponents, 37-33
• Junior forward Jordyn Ferrantino leads the Beavers with 25 points on 11 goals and three assists
• The Beavers allow 1.59 goals per game, including five shutouts
• This will be the first matchup between RIT and Babson