Mavs Set for Final 4 and Franklin Pierce Matchup
Nov 27, 2005 | Women's Soccer
The Mavericks will look for their first national championship as they kick off their fourth straight trip to the NCAA II final four with a 2 p.m. game Thursday against Franklin Pierce at the Midwestern State Soccer Field in Wichita Falls, Texas. No. 7 Nebraska-Omaha (18-2-0) made it to its fourth straight semifinal by shutting out its first three tournament opponents and behind six goals from freshman Amanda Iwansky to lead the nation in tournament scoring. The fourth-ranked Ravens (19-1-2) have been to 13 of the last 14 final fours and have five national championships.
UNO Maverick NCAA Tournament Web Site
A Maverick win would set up a title showdown Saturday at 1 p.m. against the Carson-Newman/Seattle Pacific winner.
The Mavericks and Franklin Pierce faced off in a 2002 semifinal match with UNO advancing to the championship game with a 3-1 win over the Ravens. UNO is 11-3-1 all-time in the NCAA tournament and 1-2-0 in semifinal games.
The UNO Mavericks are on the air
Mavericks fans who can't make it to Wichita Falls will have a chance to follow the action live. Nebraska-Omaha's 2 p.m. semifinal game against Franklin Pierce on Thursday will be broadcast live on 1020 KOIL and the championship game on Saturday will be televised live by CSTV at 1 p.m. Live statistics of all the tournament games will also be available through a link on the UNO Web site.
Mavericks in the NCAA tournament
In their first and only four trips to the postseason, the Mavs have advanced through the regional and quarterfinal rounds and they return to the semifinal as just the fourth school to make it to at least four straight NCAA II final fours. The Mavericks have an 11-3-1 record in the NCAA tournament and 1-3 mark in the final four. Their only win came in 2002, their first trip, as they topped Franklin Pierce 3-1. UNO has lost each of the last three years to the eventual national champion: Christian Brothers in the 2002 championship game and Kennesaw State in 2003 and Metro State in 2003 in semifinal games.
UNO's defense will hope to make the Mavs just the fifth team to make it through the NCAA tournament without allowing a goal. Kennesaw State did it in 2003 and it happened three times before the tournament expanded to the five-round, 32-team format.
Wrapping up the quarterfinals - Mavs get past Grand Valley State
Freshman forward Amanda Iwansky continued her NCAA tournament dominance by scoring twice in a 2-0 win over 12th-ranked Grand Valley State in the NCAA quarterfinal at the soccer field at Ak-Sar-Ben. Iwansky has six goals to lead the nation in NCAA tournament scoring. She scored in the third minute on a pass from sophomore forward Brandie Beale and then she headed in junior midfielder Amber Richardson's free kick early in the second half to seal the victory. The defense kept GVSU, the sixth highest scoring offense in the nation, to seven shots and fought off seven Laker corner kicks. Senior goalkeeper Amy Price earned her 31st career solo shutout with the victory.
Iwansky one goal from NCAA record, Beale ties assists record
Freshman forward Amanda Iwansky has six goals in three NCAA tournament games this year, putting her one away from tying the record. The NCC freshman of the year had a hat trick in the opening round against North Dakota and then scored one in each of the next two games. Christian Brothers' Missy Greg scored seven goals in the 2001 tournament to set the record. Sophomore forward Brandie Beale tied an NCAA tournament record with five assists. She also had three against North Dakota. The record for points in an NCAA tournament is 17 by Franklin Pierce's Pauliina Miettinen (6 g, 5 a) in 1997.
About the Ravens
Franklin Pierce (19-1-2) has been to 13 final fours in the last 14 years. The Ravens are led in scoring by two-time first-team All-American Laura Hislop, eighth in the nation in scoring, with 58 points off 23 goals and 12 assists. Senior midfielder Sonya Hughes is second on the team with 34 points off 13 goals and eight assists. Sophomore goalkeeper Jenna Mello is allowing 0.61 goals per game with a 14-0-2 record and eight shutouts. The Ravens earned their semifinal trip by out scoring their three tournament opponents 8-2.
About the Eagles
Carson-Newman (17-4-0) makes its second straight trip to the final four behind the balanced scoring of Rebecca Angus (16 g, 15 a). Eagle goalkeeper Melissa Terrell has a 0.88 goals against average and 9-1-0 record with four shutouts. CNC made it this far by out scoring its tournament opponents 6-1.
About the Falcons
Seattle Pacific (19-0-4) is making its first final four appearance as the only unbeaten team remaining in the field. The Falcons are led in scoring by Sarah Martinez with 37 goals off 16 goals and five assists. Heidi Jacobson has 11 goals and six assists for 28 points. Goalkeeper Jennifer Burns is fourth in the nation with a 0.39 goals against average. The team's 0.41 average is the third lowest nationally.
Big-time players in big-time games
Junior forward Beth McGill leads the Mavs with 39 points and has scored 15 of them as the Mavs have gone 5-1-0 against ranked teams. She has seven goals and an assist against teams ranked nationally by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Freshman forward Amanda Iwansky is second on the team with 11 points against ranked teams and sophomore forward Brandie Beale is third with 10. Overall, the Mavs are out scoring ranked teams 17-4. Goalkeeper Amy Price is allowing just 0.68 goals per game while her team is scoring 2.83.
Mavs stay at 7th in the nation
UNO remained in the top-10 of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll for the eighth straight week with a No. 7 ranking. The Mavs have been ranked as high as fourth and as low as 22nd this year and have been nationally ranked in the last 20 polls by the NSCAA.
All four final four opponents our nationally ranked with Seattle Pacific leading the way with a No. 2 ranking. The Falcons knocked off No. 1 and defending national champion Metro State via penalty kicks in the quarterfinal round.
UNO's three balanced forwards dominate NCC in scoring
The Mavericks put their three starting forwards on the All-NCC first team and all three of them are on pace to finish in at least the top five in nearly every NCC offensive category. Junior forward Beth McGill, the conference MVP, leads the NCC with 39 points and 16 goals. She is also second with seven assists and second with 73 shots. NCC freshman of the year Amanda Iwansky is third in the league with 34 points and second with 13 goals. Sophomore forward Brandie Beale is fourth in the league with 31 points and fifth with 11 goals. Her 10 assists lead the NCC. McGill and Iwansky are second in the NCC with five game-winners and Beale is fourth with four. Beale leads the NCC with 80 shots.
All three forwards have had a hat trick this year with Beale's coming against Truman, McGill's coming against Minnesota State and Iwansky's coming against North Dakota in the NCAA tournament.
On defense the Mavs are tops with a 0.55 goals against average and goalkeeper Amy Price is first in the league with a 0.58 goals against average.
Better late then never for Maverick offense
The Mavs are scoring three times as many goals in the second half as they are in the first half. In their last 12 games they have scored just eight times in the first half and 30 times in the second half. Despite the offense's early struggles, the defense has kept opponents to just five first-half goals and six second-half goals this year and UNO is out scoring its opponents 60-11 overall. When the Mavs are behind at halftime, they are a perfect 4-0-0 in coming back.
There's no place like Ak-Sar-Ben
The Mavericks played their final game at the Soccer Field at Ak-Sar-Ben where they went 8-1-0 this year and allowed just two goals. UNO averaged 3.56 goals per game while allowing just 0.22. The offense averaged 12.0 shots on goal per game while the defense kept opponents to just 2.9. Seven of the Maverick wins came in shutouts. Beth McGill leads the Mavs with 21 points at Ak-Sar-Ben off nine goals and three assists and Brandie Beale is second with 19 points. The Mavericks are undefeated (7-0-0) in NCAA tournament play at home.
Mavs place six on all-NCC team
Junior forward Beth McGill was named the NCC player of the year and forward Amanda Iwansky was named the freshman of the year. McGill was joined by Iwansky, sophomore forward Brandie Beale and junior midfielder Amber Richardson on the first team and senior defenders Meghan Pile and Becca Fritz on the second team. McGill earned her second first-team honor and Iwansky, the fifth Maverick named freshman of the year in seven years of soccer, was the only freshman to make the first team. McGill, an All-American last year, is the third UNO player named MVP.
Mavs place five on academic All-NCC team
Seniors Meghan Pile and Amy Price each earned their third academic all-North Central Conference honors. Joining them were juniors Amber Richardson and Beth McGill and sophomore Danielle McCawley, the only 4.00 GPA student-athlete on the list this year.
UNO Maverick NCAA Tournament Web Site
A Maverick win would set up a title showdown Saturday at 1 p.m. against the Carson-Newman/Seattle Pacific winner.
The Mavericks and Franklin Pierce faced off in a 2002 semifinal match with UNO advancing to the championship game with a 3-1 win over the Ravens. UNO is 11-3-1 all-time in the NCAA tournament and 1-2-0 in semifinal games.
The UNO Mavericks are on the air
Mavericks fans who can't make it to Wichita Falls will have a chance to follow the action live. Nebraska-Omaha's 2 p.m. semifinal game against Franklin Pierce on Thursday will be broadcast live on 1020 KOIL and the championship game on Saturday will be televised live by CSTV at 1 p.m. Live statistics of all the tournament games will also be available through a link on the UNO Web site.
Mavericks in the NCAA tournament
In their first and only four trips to the postseason, the Mavs have advanced through the regional and quarterfinal rounds and they return to the semifinal as just the fourth school to make it to at least four straight NCAA II final fours. The Mavericks have an 11-3-1 record in the NCAA tournament and 1-3 mark in the final four. Their only win came in 2002, their first trip, as they topped Franklin Pierce 3-1. UNO has lost each of the last three years to the eventual national champion: Christian Brothers in the 2002 championship game and Kennesaw State in 2003 and Metro State in 2003 in semifinal games.
UNO's defense will hope to make the Mavs just the fifth team to make it through the NCAA tournament without allowing a goal. Kennesaw State did it in 2003 and it happened three times before the tournament expanded to the five-round, 32-team format.
Wrapping up the quarterfinals - Mavs get past Grand Valley State
Freshman forward Amanda Iwansky continued her NCAA tournament dominance by scoring twice in a 2-0 win over 12th-ranked Grand Valley State in the NCAA quarterfinal at the soccer field at Ak-Sar-Ben. Iwansky has six goals to lead the nation in NCAA tournament scoring. She scored in the third minute on a pass from sophomore forward Brandie Beale and then she headed in junior midfielder Amber Richardson's free kick early in the second half to seal the victory. The defense kept GVSU, the sixth highest scoring offense in the nation, to seven shots and fought off seven Laker corner kicks. Senior goalkeeper Amy Price earned her 31st career solo shutout with the victory.
Iwansky one goal from NCAA record, Beale ties assists record
Freshman forward Amanda Iwansky has six goals in three NCAA tournament games this year, putting her one away from tying the record. The NCC freshman of the year had a hat trick in the opening round against North Dakota and then scored one in each of the next two games. Christian Brothers' Missy Greg scored seven goals in the 2001 tournament to set the record. Sophomore forward Brandie Beale tied an NCAA tournament record with five assists. She also had three against North Dakota. The record for points in an NCAA tournament is 17 by Franklin Pierce's Pauliina Miettinen (6 g, 5 a) in 1997.
About the Ravens
Franklin Pierce (19-1-2) has been to 13 final fours in the last 14 years. The Ravens are led in scoring by two-time first-team All-American Laura Hislop, eighth in the nation in scoring, with 58 points off 23 goals and 12 assists. Senior midfielder Sonya Hughes is second on the team with 34 points off 13 goals and eight assists. Sophomore goalkeeper Jenna Mello is allowing 0.61 goals per game with a 14-0-2 record and eight shutouts. The Ravens earned their semifinal trip by out scoring their three tournament opponents 8-2.
About the Eagles
Carson-Newman (17-4-0) makes its second straight trip to the final four behind the balanced scoring of Rebecca Angus (16 g, 15 a). Eagle goalkeeper Melissa Terrell has a 0.88 goals against average and 9-1-0 record with four shutouts. CNC made it this far by out scoring its tournament opponents 6-1.
About the Falcons
Seattle Pacific (19-0-4) is making its first final four appearance as the only unbeaten team remaining in the field. The Falcons are led in scoring by Sarah Martinez with 37 goals off 16 goals and five assists. Heidi Jacobson has 11 goals and six assists for 28 points. Goalkeeper Jennifer Burns is fourth in the nation with a 0.39 goals against average. The team's 0.41 average is the third lowest nationally.
Big-time players in big-time games
Junior forward Beth McGill leads the Mavs with 39 points and has scored 15 of them as the Mavs have gone 5-1-0 against ranked teams. She has seven goals and an assist against teams ranked nationally by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Freshman forward Amanda Iwansky is second on the team with 11 points against ranked teams and sophomore forward Brandie Beale is third with 10. Overall, the Mavs are out scoring ranked teams 17-4. Goalkeeper Amy Price is allowing just 0.68 goals per game while her team is scoring 2.83.
Mavs stay at 7th in the nation
UNO remained in the top-10 of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll for the eighth straight week with a No. 7 ranking. The Mavs have been ranked as high as fourth and as low as 22nd this year and have been nationally ranked in the last 20 polls by the NSCAA.
All four final four opponents our nationally ranked with Seattle Pacific leading the way with a No. 2 ranking. The Falcons knocked off No. 1 and defending national champion Metro State via penalty kicks in the quarterfinal round.
UNO's three balanced forwards dominate NCC in scoring
The Mavericks put their three starting forwards on the All-NCC first team and all three of them are on pace to finish in at least the top five in nearly every NCC offensive category. Junior forward Beth McGill, the conference MVP, leads the NCC with 39 points and 16 goals. She is also second with seven assists and second with 73 shots. NCC freshman of the year Amanda Iwansky is third in the league with 34 points and second with 13 goals. Sophomore forward Brandie Beale is fourth in the league with 31 points and fifth with 11 goals. Her 10 assists lead the NCC. McGill and Iwansky are second in the NCC with five game-winners and Beale is fourth with four. Beale leads the NCC with 80 shots.
All three forwards have had a hat trick this year with Beale's coming against Truman, McGill's coming against Minnesota State and Iwansky's coming against North Dakota in the NCAA tournament.
On defense the Mavs are tops with a 0.55 goals against average and goalkeeper Amy Price is first in the league with a 0.58 goals against average.
Better late then never for Maverick offense
The Mavs are scoring three times as many goals in the second half as they are in the first half. In their last 12 games they have scored just eight times in the first half and 30 times in the second half. Despite the offense's early struggles, the defense has kept opponents to just five first-half goals and six second-half goals this year and UNO is out scoring its opponents 60-11 overall. When the Mavs are behind at halftime, they are a perfect 4-0-0 in coming back.
There's no place like Ak-Sar-Ben
The Mavericks played their final game at the Soccer Field at Ak-Sar-Ben where they went 8-1-0 this year and allowed just two goals. UNO averaged 3.56 goals per game while allowing just 0.22. The offense averaged 12.0 shots on goal per game while the defense kept opponents to just 2.9. Seven of the Maverick wins came in shutouts. Beth McGill leads the Mavs with 21 points at Ak-Sar-Ben off nine goals and three assists and Brandie Beale is second with 19 points. The Mavericks are undefeated (7-0-0) in NCAA tournament play at home.
Mavs place six on all-NCC team
Junior forward Beth McGill was named the NCC player of the year and forward Amanda Iwansky was named the freshman of the year. McGill was joined by Iwansky, sophomore forward Brandie Beale and junior midfielder Amber Richardson on the first team and senior defenders Meghan Pile and Becca Fritz on the second team. McGill earned her second first-team honor and Iwansky, the fifth Maverick named freshman of the year in seven years of soccer, was the only freshman to make the first team. McGill, an All-American last year, is the third UNO player named MVP.
Mavs place five on academic All-NCC team
Seniors Meghan Pile and Amy Price each earned their third academic all-North Central Conference honors. Joining them were juniors Amber Richardson and Beth McGill and sophomore Danielle McCawley, the only 4.00 GPA student-athlete on the list this year.
Players Mentioned
Fwd
/ Women's Soccer
Def
/ Women's Soccer
Fwd
/ Women's Soccer
Mid
/ Women's Soccer
Fwd
/ Women's Soccer
Def
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
Mid
/ Women's SoccerTuesday, September 01
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
