WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College women's soccer team heads north to take on Westminster College in the Presidents' Athletic Conference Tournament Semifinals Tuesday evening. The match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff at UPMC Sports Complex in New Wilmington, Pa.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
W&J qualified for the tournament as the No. 4 seed after finishing the regular season with a 6-2-1 conference mark. The Presidents are 10-7-2 overall in the 2021 season.
The Presidents secured a 1-0 double overtime win over Waynesburg in the PAC Tournament Quarterfinals on Saturday at Alexandre Stadium. Senior forward
Katie Hahn (Volant, Pa./Wilmington) scored the game-winning goal in the 106th minute. The game-winner was Hahn's fourth in 2021.
The Presidents enter Tuesday night's contest winners of five straight games. That is the longest winning streak for W&J since winning seven straight to close the 2017 regular season.
W&J has defeated Franciscan (3-2 in 2OT), Thiel (2-1), Geneva (5-2), Bethany (4-1) and Waynesburg (1-0 in 2OT) on its current five game win streak. The lone conference losses for W&J this season were to Westminster (2-0) on Oct. 2 and Chatham (2-0) on Oct. 9. They defeated Grove City (1-0), the league's other semifinalist, on Sept. 29.
Westminster enters the tournament as the top seed after putting together a 9-0 mark in conference play. The Titans have been off since Oct. 27 after earning a bye into the semifinals. Westminster earned a 3-1 win over Franciscan in the regular season finale.
HEAD TO HEAD SERIES
Westminster leads the all-time series by a 33-16-9 margin. The Titans have won the past two meetings, which includes a 2-0 victory at W&J on Oct. 2. Westminster claimed a 2-1 decision in the season opener for both teams during the spring season. The lone goal for W&J was score by
McKenna Lewis (Hershey, Pa./Hershey). The two teams played to a scoreless draw in 2019. W&J's last win came during the 2018 regular season when Julie Halula found the back of the net in the 98th minute to give W&J a 1-0 overtime victory in New Wilmington.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
W&J
Katie Hahn – Senior Forward – Volant, Pa./Wilmington
Hahn leads W&J in goals (6), assists (6) and points (18) during the 2021 season. The senior recorded four assists in PAC play, which is tied for second most. She has four game-winning goals this fall, which is tied for second most in the PAC.
Gabriella Lloyd – Junior Goalkeeper – Butler, Pa./Butler
Lloyd has put together a strong season in net for W&J. The junior ranks second in the PAC in save percentage (.825) and second in goals against average (1.10). Lloyd has recorded eight wins and four shutouts in 2021.
Courtney Crivelli – Senior Defender – Beaver, Pa./Beaver
Crivelli has played a key role for the Presidents' all over the field this season. A key member of the defensive unit, Crivelli has tallied a goal and four assists, all of which have come during conference play.
Westminster
Brooke Horvath – Freshman Forward – Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional
Horvat has made an immediate impact for the Titans. She is the team leader with eight assists. She ranks second in goals (11) and points (30). She played a hand in both goals (one goal, one assist) for Westminster in its 2-0 regular season win over W&J.
Camille Holzschuh – Senior Goalkeeper – Youngstown, Ohio/Boardman
Holzschuh has recorded 34 saves and has allowed just six goals this fall. She has recorded all 15 victories in net for the Titans.
Julia Redilla – Junior Midfielder – Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley
Redilla leads Westminster with 14 goals and 32 points. She registered a hat trick against Geneva on Sept. 29 in the PAC opener. She has tallied five game-winning goals this fall.
W&J vs. WESTMINSTER ALL-TIME IN THE PAC TOURNAMENT
Tuesday evening's matchup will be the eighth meeting between the two programs in the PAC Tournament. Westminster holds a 4-2-1 advantage all time in the league's tournament. The Titans claimed a 3-2 victory in the most recent meeting in 2018. Six of the eight meetings, including Tuesday's match, will have been in the semifinal round. W&J beat Westminster 3-0 in their lone championship round matchup in 2010.
LOOKING AHEAD
W&J will be looking to advance to the PAC Championship match for the first time since 2010. The Presidents have been knocked out of the tournament in the semifinal round eight straight times. W&J also earned its last PAC title in 2010, which was one of three straight championships for the Red and Black. Westminster last earned a trip to the finals in 2018. The Titans last conference title came in 2007.
AROUND THE PAC TOURNAMENT
In the other PAC Semifinals match, Grove City will host Chatham at 4:30 p.m. at Don Lyle Field in Grove City on Wednesday.
The title match, slated for Saturday, Nov. 6, will be hosted by the highest-remaining seed following Wednesday's semifinal results. Information on the title match will be announced after the completion of the semifinal round.
Admission to all PAC Championship Tournament matches is $5 for adults and $2 for students, with students at PAC host institutions admitted for free with valid identification.
This year's tournament winner will also receive the conference's automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Division III Championship. The PAC is one of 44 conferences granted automatic qualification (Pool A) to the Division III Championship. Selections for the 64-team Division III Championship will be announced Monday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. First and second round matchups are scheduled for Friday-Sunday, Nov. 12-14.
