MIDDLETOWN, CT. – The Wesleyan University women's soccer team will make their fifth overall appearance in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, earning an at-large bid to the First Round at Tufts University on Saturday, Nov. 15. Wesleyan will face NYU in the opening round at 1:30 p.m., following the Tufts, Lesley University matchup at 11 a.m.
Reaching the Tournament for the fifth-straight year, the Cardinals did so with a 9-4-3 record and a 4-3-3 campaign within the NESCAC. The Cardinals saw quarterfinal action in the NESCAC Championship as the #2 seed but exited the tournament early with 2-1 loss to the top-seeded Jumbos. Head coach
Eva Meredith is 5-4-1 in NCAA Tournament play, reaching the Final Four in 2021.
The quarterfinal matchup at Tufts saw the Jumbos score early in the first half with just over 10 minutes of action underway from the opening kickoff. The Jumbos took the lead on a free kick, but
Maria Utz '27 tied the match up at one to enter the half. Posting 16 shots on the Cardinals' heavy hitting defense, the Jumbos were awarded with a second goal to secure the win.
Utz leads all Cardinals in scoring with 10 goals and eight assists for 28 points as one of the most dominant players in the NESCAC. Utz was named an All-NESCAC First Team selection on Wednesday. Starting in goal,
Molly Brumbach '26 holds an 8-4-3 overall record with eight shutouts. Brumbach has made 65 saves this season for a .890 save percentage while allowing eight goals against. Brumbach was also a First Team All-NESCAC honoree this week.
The 2024 NCAA Tournament berth was another at-large bid after the Cardinals earned the top seed in the NESCAC for the first time but fell in the semifinal round. Opening Tournament play, the Cardinals defeated SUNY Brockport 4-1 before seeing defeat in the Second Round to Scranton, 2-0.
NYU enters the tournament unranked with a 9-6-3 record while running 1-5-1 in the University Athletic Association. The Violets finished the regular season with a 1-0 loss to Brandeis, in a UAA matchup, posting 10 total shots and six on goal. The Cardinals and the Violets have never met in competition, marking the first matchup for the two programs. Against ranked opponents, the Violets are 3-4-1. Marlee Scanlon leads the Violets with six goals and an assist, but has not scored since Oct. 11. Mia Capo looks to get the start in goal with an 8-5-3 record. Capo marks 51 saves and 15 goals against with a .773 save percentage.
The 2025 NESCAC Champion Jumbos are hosting the opening rounds. Ranked third in the nation, the Jumbos are 14-1-3 and make their 12
th appearance in the Tournament. Tufts defeated Colby in the NESCAC semifinal, 3-2, before taking the title over Williams in penalty kicks, 5-3, as the match was tied 1-1. During the regular season matchup with the Cardinals, the game fell to a scoreless draw. The Jumbos' attack is led by Elsi Aires with 10 goals and four assists, sitting just behind Utz in the NESCAC individual standings. In goal, Gigi Edwards is 11-1-3 with 54 saves and eight goals against.
Facing the Jumbos is Lesley. The Lynx earned an automatic berth after a thrilling 3-1 victory over Maine Maritime Academy to take home the North Atlantic Conference title as the top seed in the conference. The Lynx are 11-3-6 on the season and reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years, previously making a First Round appearance in 2022. The Lynx have never advanced to the Second Round. Leecy Cruz has scored nine goals this season, leading the Lynx on the offensive side. In 14 games, goalkeeper Madison Reed is 5-2-6 on the season with 50 saves and 14 goals against.
The winners of the opening round matchups will play Sunday, Nov. 16, at 1 p.m. at Bello Field.
