Fontbonne Women's Soccer NCAA Tournament Opening Round Preview

ST. LOUIS, Mo.—The Fontbonne University women's soccer team opens the First Round of the NCAA Tournament against host and No. 9 ranked Loras.

Game 1

Fontbonne (15-2-2; 12-0-2 SLIAC) vs. Loras (18-0-1; 8-0-0 A-R-C)

When: November 12^th, 2021

Location: Dubuque, Iowa

Time: 1 p.m.

Video: HERE

Stats: HERE

Tournament Page: HERE

NCAA Women's Soccer Bracket: HERE

Game 2

Calvin (13-3-1; 7-1 MIAA) vs. MSOE (16-4; 12-1 NACC)

When: November 12^th, 2021

Location: Dubuque, Iowa

Time: 3:30 p.m.

Video: HERE

Stats: HERE

Second Round

Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner

When: November 13^th, 2021

Location: Dubuque, Iowa

Time: 3 p.m.

Video: HERE

Stats: HERE

Team Comparison

• This will be the second meeting on the year between Fontbonne and Loras. The Duhawks won the previous matchup 3-1 back on Sept. 12^th at WashU.
• This game will feature two of the top offenses in the nation with Fontbonne averaging 3.26 goals per game ranking 17^th nationally, while Loras is right behind them in 21^st at 3.16.
• Fontbonne also ranks fourth nationally averaging 26.16 shots per game, while Loras is 22^nd at 21.47.
• Fontbonne is 18^th in total goals with 62 and Loras is 21^st with 59.

A Look At Fontbonne

• The Griffins won its first SLIAC Tournament Championship back on November 6^th for the first time since 1996 against Webster.
• The Griffins went unbeaten in conference play for the second straight season and set a program record with 12 conference wins.
• After a tie against Webster on October 13^th, the Griffins closed out the year on a seven-game win streak and outscored its opponents, 30-1.
• Head Coach Dylan Cassidy won his second straight SLIAC Coach of the Year award. Molly Kovarik, Caroline Neal, and Alexandria Smith were named to the First Team.
• Krystal Kohenskey, Caitlyn Smith, Kierstyn Weaver, Claire Dalton, and Mary Beers were named to the Second Team, while Libby Bateman earned Third Team honors.
• Kovarik, the reigning back-to-back SLIAC Offensive Player of the Year, has scored a career-high 23 goals this year ranking first in the SLIAC and tied for third in the nation.
• She's the all-time leading goal scorer in Fontbonne history with 59 and is just a point away from becoming the all-time career points leader as she sits with 131.
• Kovarik registered at least one point in all but three games this year and had at least one goal in the final eight games.
• Kohenskey has seven goals and a career-high 14 assists for 28 points thus far. Ohenskey is third nationally with 14 assists.
• She's moved up to third all-time in career assists with 27 and sits in 10^th in career points with 55.
• Neal is second on the team with 10 kills and three assists for 23 points. In her career, she's amassed 33 goals placing her seventh all-time, while ranking seventh in assists (16) and fourth in points (82).
• Weaver has four goals and six assists for 14 points. She's tied for fifth all-time in assists (21) and is eighth in points (65).
• Defensively, the Griffins have been stout allowing just 13 goals.
• Beers has collected 10 shutouts this year and in the regular season finale became the all-time leader in career shutouts currently sitting with 24.
• She's amassed a .740 save percentage and a 0.70 goals against average this year.

A Look At Loras

• The Duhawks won the American Rivers Championship (A-R-C) with a 4-1 win over Wartburg in the Championship.
• The Duhawks feature the best record in the nation thus far.
• Offensively, the Duhawks are led by Abby Eriksen with 11 goals and three assists for 25 points.
• Brynn Jacobi is second in scoring with nine goals and six assists for 24 points, while Ryleigh O'Brien has seven goals and four assists for 18 points.
• Payton McDonnell leads the nation with 19 assists.
• Defensively, the Duhawks have allowed a mere eight goals and holding opponents to 6.7 shots per game.
• Kyndal Kells leads in net with 36 saves and a .900 save percentage.

A Look At Calvin

• The Knights are back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015.
• They are 12-7-5 in NCAA Division III Tournament play as they've reached the quarterfinals in 2006, 2009, and 2015.
• This year, the Knights fell in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Semifinals against Trine in penalty-kicks.
• The Knights have scored 53 goals on the year led by sophomore Sophie Muller with 15 and nine assists for 39 points.
• They rank eighth nationally averaging 24.29 shots per game.
• Elizabeth Williams has nine goals and five assists for 23 points.
• Talla List and Jessica Paulson have found twine six and five times, respectively.
• In net, the Knights are led by Sarah Hoekwater with 43 saves and a .717 save percentage.

A Look At MSOE

• The Raiders received an at-large berth for the first time in program history to the NCAA Tournament.
• It marks the third time they're head to Nationals.
• The Raiders received a share of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC)
• MSOE ranks eighth nationally with 72 total goals, 11^th in shots per game at 23.50 and 12^th in goals per game (3.60).
• They're led by senior Nikki Ratts with 16 and six assists for 38 points.
• Sophomore Louisa Essuman has 11 goals and nine assists for 31 points.
• Grace Quinn is third in scoring with eight goals.
• Defensively, the Raiders have allowed 12 goals.
• The sophomore duo of Reagan Tompkins and Megan Lacina have combined for 66 saves and a .846 save percentage.

About Fontbonne University

Fontbonne University is a private, Catholic liberal arts university located in St. Louis, committed to a transformative education and inspiring students to become global citizens who think critically, act ethically and serve responsibly. The university, founded in 1923, is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. For more information, visit www.fontbonne.edu.

Make sure to follow the women's soccer team on all its social media accounts: Twitter (@fbuwsoccer), Instagram (@fbuwsoccer) and Facebook (/FontbonneUGriffins).