Delaware vs Lehigh – Chapel Hill – 2 p.m.
How They Got Here
Delaware defeated Drexel 6-1 in the CAA Championship game for their ninth title in 10 years with goals from Kiki Oudshoorn, Noelle Sabbagh, Julia Duffhuis, Ashlyn Carr, Lia Becker and Grace Hoepfner. Carr was named Most Outstanding Performer, while Duffhuis, Hoepfner and Oudshoorn earned All-Tournament honors.
Lehigh earned their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance after defeating Boston University in overtime. Maddie Kandra tied the game at 1-1 early in the fourth quarter and Guusje Hogendoorn scored the overtime winner off a penalty corner to win the Patriot League Championship. Maddie Kahn earned Most Valuable Player after recording 12 saves, while Sarah Bonthuis, Julia Gatelein and Hogendoorn were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Last Time They Met
The Blue Hens and the Mountain Hawks have not met since September of 1999 in Bethlehem, Pa. where Delaware won 5-0. Delaware leads the all-time series 15-7 and was on a seven-game winning streak against Lehigh.
Players to Watch
Lia Becker (UD): The freshman forward has appeared in 19 games so far this season for the Blue Hens. She tallied three goals and seven assists for 13 points. Becker scored and dished an assist in a 6-1 win over Drexel in the CAA Championship.
Julia Gatelein (LU): The junior midfielder has started all 20 games so far and logged 1232 minutes. She’s been apart of a defensive unit that has allowed 1.95 goals per game. Gatelein scored the clinching goal in the shootout against American in the Patriot League semifinals.
The winner of Delaware and Lehigh plays North Carolina on Friday at noon.
Miami vs Rider – Evanston – 3 p.m.
How They Got Here
Miami defeated App State 3-1 as Paula Pena Martinez tallied a hat trick in the Mid-American Championship game for their six straight tournament title. Jenna Kirby won Most Valuable Player while Pena Martinez, Luli Russo and Macy McHale earned All—Tournament nods.
After Fairfield struck early, Indy Zoontjens tied the game up at 1-1 early in the first quarter. The game remained scoreless until overtime when Valerie Perales netted the overtime winner for the NEC Tournament Championship. Rider goalkeeper Kaitlyn Tomas was named Most Valuable Player, while Perales, Zoontjens and Lyric Scott were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Last Time They Met
These two teams last met for the first time ever in September 2021 in Oxford where Claudia Negrete Garcia scored twice as Miami won 3-1. Kaitlyn Tomas made seven saves for Rider.
Players to Watch
Paula Pena Martinez (MIA): Pena Martinez ranks first on the Red Hawks with 16 goals and tied for first with 32 points. The junior forward scored four goals in the MAC Tournament and earned All-Tournament honors. She tallied four multi-goal games so far this season.
Valeria Perales (RID): The freshman forward ranks first in scoring with 20 goals and eight assists for 48 points, along with seven game-winning goals. Perales has logged 1110 minutes so far this season. She enters the NCAA Tournament with a four-game goal streak.
The winner of Miami and Rider will play Northwestern on Friday at 1 p.m.
jill gattens 