Huskies Open NCAA Tourney At Home Against Rider

SEATTLE – UW women’s soccer will make its 13th appearance in the NCAA Tournament this Friday at home against the Rider University Broncs at Husky Soccer Field.

“Everyone’s really excited,” senior captain Chelsea Archer said. “The biggest thing is taking what we did in the season and implementing into our game. It’s a must win situation and we are focusing on one game at a time. What they do is not important to what we are going to be doing. We have to focus on what we do best, which is keeping possession and playing as a team and playing for each other. If we do that, we’ll get the result.”

The Huskies (12-6-2, 5-4-2 Pac-12) are coming off a 1-1 draw against Washington St. last Friday, Nov. 7 in Pullman, Wash. With the tie, UW finished tied for fifth in the conference with the Cougars and California.

UW’s attack is led by first-team All-Pac-12 selection Jaclyn Softli, who finished the regular season with 10 goals and one assist. Her 10 goals are were fifth in the Pac-12 this season and a single-season career high to put her in the top-10 in UW history for goals in a season. Her six game-winners are the fourth-most in a single season for a Husky and led the conference.

Senior midfielder Kate Bennett, a second-team All-Pac-12 honoree, netted six goals and three assists and freshman Kimby Keever contributed five goals and two assists to earn her a spot on the Pac-12 All-Freshman team.

Amanda Perez recorded two goals and three assists, freshman Shannon Simon leads the team in assists with four and sophomore Becca Schoales has three goals on the season. Chelsea Archer also has three goals and has scored in two of the last three games.

The Huskies’ defense has seven shutouts in 2014 and is led by junior goalkeeper and captain Megan Kufeld. Center backs Stine Schoening and Allyson Brahs have started every game and freshman Dominique Bond-Flasza has solidified the right back position. Senior Christina Archer is a defensive stalwart in the midfield and is in the top-10 all-time at UW for games played.

Rider (12-5-3) went 5-2-1 over the final eight games of the regular season to finish in fourth place but won the MAAC Championship Tournament to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tornament. The Broncs are led on the offensive end by a pair of first Team All-MAAC selections, junior Tara Ballay with 11 goals, sophomore Michelle Iacono with four goals and five assists, and MAAC All-Rookie team member, freshman Ellie Smith.

On the defensive end, the Broncs are led by the Championship Tournament MVP, sophomore goalkeeper Bethany-May Howard and Second Team All-MAAC defender and All-Tournament team selection, fifth-year senior Becca Kape.

The Huskies have never faced the Broncs and the two squads had no common opponents this season.

“You have to focus on yourself,” Kufeld said. “You have to play your best soccer and at the end of the day, playing your best soccer should put you in a good position to win.”

Washington is 11-10-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, with its highest finish coming in 2004 and 2010 when the Huskies reached the Elite Eight.

Friday’s game is set to kick off at 7 p.m. PT and will be streamed live. Tickets can be purchased online and parking is available on site for $10. Follow the action live on Twitter at @UW_WSoccer.