MIDDLETOWN, CT. -  Securing the final qualifying seed for the NESCAC Championships, the Wesleyan women's soccer team travels to top-ranked Tufts University on Saturday, Nov. 1, as they enter the tournament for the seventh-straight season. Kickoff begins at 2 p.m. in Medford, Mass., at Bello Field.

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Cardinals Scouting Report

• Finishing the season at 9-3-3 overall with a NESCAC record of 4-3-3, the Cardinals will make their 13^th overall appearance as they seek the program's first NESCAC title.
• The Cardinals opened the season with an eight-game unbeaten streak that came to an end against No. 10 Middlebury in a 2-1 loss.
• Earning their highest ranking at 14, against ranked opponents, the Cardinals ran 1-2-1 as they beat No. 23 Amherst 3-0 and tied No. 6 Tufts in a scoreless draw.
• The program returns 22 players including the 2024 NESCAC Rookie of the Year, Sheridan Snow and Defensive Player of the Year, Molly Brumbach.
• Head Coach Eva Meredith, the 2024 NESCAC Coaching Staff of the Year, welcomed eight freshmen and one transfer.
• Outscoring their opponents 32-7, the Cardinals have allowed just 67 shots on goal.

Cardinals to Watch

• Molly Brumbach '26 starts in goal for the Cardinals. Earning the starting position in 14 games, the senior goalkeeper is 8-3-3 on the season with eight shutouts. Marking six goals against, Brumbach holds a .903 save percentage with 56 saves on 108 shots faced. Brumbach made a season-high nine saves against Williams and faced a season-high 21 shots from Middlebury. Following the Cardinals' 1-0 win over Colby, Brumbach was named the NESCAC Player of the Week. Brumbach ranks Top 5 in all statistical categories for NESCAC goalkeepers.
• A spitfire forward, Maria Utz '27 is one of the biggest threats in the conference and leads all Cardinals in scoring with nine goals, eight assists for 26 points and five game-winning goals. Unafraid to shoot her shot, Utz leads with 68 total shots. Against Rhode Island College, Utz completed a six-point night, making contact on all goals, scoring two and assisting on two more. Utz led the way through the Amherst stunner and net a hat trick against WPI back in September. Utz does not lose too many foot races and is incredibly dangerous in the low corners. In the NESCAC, Utz ranks first in shots on goal, game-winning goals, and points and second in shots, goals, and assists.
• Senior Riley Buehler '26 has been a standout highlight this season from the midfield. Playing her best season to date, Buehler has seven goals and 14 points on the books, two of which are game-winning goals. Buehler closed the season with two goals against Conn., and posted two more goals in the 4-0 shutout of Trinity and the 6-0 shutout of Springfield. She ranks seventh in the NESCAC in goals and ninth in points.
• Defensively, the Cardinals boast one of the best back lines in the conference. Sheridan Snow '28 fixed herself as a leader amongst this squad in the absence of Tori Rideau-Winds. Notching two goals, Snow leads her teammates in playing time, including Brumbach. Headlining a trio that includes Brianna Garcia '28 and Payton Radosti '29, the defense has allowed just 67 shots on goal and seven goals against. Through the first six games of the season, Brumbach only saw 14 shots.
• The Cardinals' midfield is loaded with strongholds that include Waverly Meyers '26, Rachel Katz '28, Kerenza Leahey '27, and Bridget Taketa '29.

Jumbos Scouting Report

• Ranked No. 3 in the nation in the United Soccer Coaches poll, the Jumbos earned the #1 seed in the NESCAC with a 12-1-2 overall record, going 7-1-2 in conference play.
• The 2002 NESCAC Champs will make their 24^th appearance in the tournament after falling in the 2024 title match to Amherst.
• Against ranked opponents this season, the Jumbos are 1-0-2, beating No. 12 MIT before two 0-0 draws with the Cardinals and No. 10 Middlebury.
• The Jumbos closed the season 2-0-1 after a loss to Amherst.
• The program leads the NESCAC in team points, goals, and assists.

Jumbos to Watch

• Neck and neck with Utz, Elsie Aires leads the NESCAC in scoring with nine goals, four assists, and 22 points in 15 games played. A threat up front, Aires is known for multi-point games, including a four-point venture against Bowdoin.
• A playmaker from the midfield, Caroline Kelly holds nine assists and four goals for 17 points this season. Kelly opened the season with a four-assist affair against Regis is a 6-0 shutout. Kelly was named the NESCAC Player of the Week following a 3-0 week for the Jumbos in September. She ranks first in assists and third in shots and points behind Aires and Utz.
• Another midfielder, Reese Birch has started all 15 games, marking seven goals and five assists. Birch posted two goals against Bowdoin.
• Defensively, the Jumbos nearly match the Cardinals with an unmovable wall. Logging over 1,000 minutes, Anna Griffin, Maggie Rogers, and Lena Sugrue have allowed just six goals.
• In goal, Gigi Edwards looks to get the start. In 12 games played, Edwards holds a 9-1-2 overall record with seven shutouts. On 82 shots faced, Edwards holds a .905 save percentage with 38 saves and four goals against. Edwards ranks Top 5 in three of the conference goalkeeper categories.

Series History

• The Cardinals are 11-27-9 all time as the Jumbos hold the advantage in 47 meetings. On the road, the Cardinals are 4-16-4.
• In the last three meetings, the Cardinals are 2-0-1 with the last road win coming in a 3-1 regular season victory in 2023.
• The last post-season matchup was the 2018 NESCAC quarterfinal. That match ended in a 2-0 loss in Medford.

Regular Season Matchup (Medford, Mass., - Boxscore/Recap)

• Kicking off on Sept. 27, the No. 21 Cardinals were held to a scoreless draw by No. 6 Tufts, a result that the Cardinals would accept given the defensive matchup.
• The Jumbos were the toughest test of the season for the Cardinals up to that point, as the Jumbos' 19 total shots matched the combined shot count of the seven previous opponents.
• As Brumbach made six saves, Snow and Radosti logged heavy minutes without a break to hold the Jumbos to such a narrow shot margin, edging the Cardinals just 7-6.
• While the Jumbos controlled the pace of the game, the Cardinals were unwilling to back down.
• Edwards finished with six saves in the opposite goal.

NESCAC Tournament Information

• The top four seeds will host quarterfinal matchups on Saturday, Nov. 1. The tournament semifinals will be held on Saturday, Nov. 8, at the highest seeds. The NESCAC Championship will be held on Sunday, Nov. 9, at the highest remaining seed.
• Visit the NESCAC website for Championship Central and the NESCAC Seeding Announcement.