Eagle Women’s Soccer Seeks To Make More NCAA D-II Postseason History

On Friday (Dec. 1) at 6 p.m. at Ferguson Field against No. RV Grand Valley State, the No. 2-ranked Ashland University women's soccer team will attempt to do something no other Eagle women's soccer side has done since the program began in 1995.
 
In that NCAA Division II third-round playoff game at home, the 2023 Eagles will seek to become the first in program history to win three NCAA postseason games in one year. This year's AU team has tied the 1998 and 2004 editions by winning its first two D-II playoff games.
 
Here is a capsule look at the 1998, 2004 and 2023 teams which each moved on to the third round of the NCAA playoffs:
 
1998
In just the fourth season of the program, the 1998 Eagles topped both West Virginia Wesleyan (3-0) and Southern Indiana (1-0 in double overtime) on the road to qualify for the Division II Final Four in Boca Raton, Fla.
 
The victory against West Virginia Wesleyan avenged a 1-0 loss in 1997 in the program's first-ever NCAA tournament game. Senior forward Erin Sluga scored right before halftime, then freshman forward Kristy Ritchie scored in the 53^rd and 54^th minutes to put the game away.
 
Ashland's goal in the second OT period against USI was scored by sophomore midfielder Shanna Stosak.
 
2004
Junior forward Maria Manzo scored the Eagles' lone goals in the wins over NKU and Parkside – in the 37^th minute against the Norse, and in the 25^th minutes vs. the Rangers.
 
2023
The program's first NCAA postseason win in 19 years against the Huskies saw three goals scored by three different players – freshman midfielder Ella Schneider in the 14^th minute, freshman forward Sydney Polen in the 41^st minute and junior midfielder Tori Haggit in the 58^th minute.
 
Ashland's most recent NCAA playoff win vs. the Yellow Jackets saw Polen score in the 20^th minute, then Schneider pot one in the 64^th minute.
 
In each of those three postseasons, the Eagles did not allow a goal in any of the first two games of those respective tournaments.
  1997 (0-1)

• Lost 1-0 at West Virginia Wesleyan

1998 (2-1)

• Won 3-0 at West Virginia Wesleyan
• Won 1-0 (2OT) at Southern Indiana (Division II Elite Eight)
• Lost 5-2 to Sonoma State (Division II Final Four at Lynn)

1999 (0-1)

• Lost 1-0 at home to Mercyhurst

2000 (0-0-1)

• Tied 0-0 (4OT) at Mercyhurst (lost in penalty kicks)

2001 (0-1)

• Lost 4-0 at home to Northern Kentucky

2002 (1-1)

• Won 3-2 at home vs. Wheeling Jesuit
• Lost 2-1 (OT) at Northern Kentucky

2003 (0-1)

• Lost 2-1 (3OT) vs. Northern Kentucky (at Grand Valley State)

2004 (2-1)

• Won 1-0 vs. Northern Kentucky (at Parkside)
• Won 1-0 at Parkside
• Lost 4-0 at home vs. Nebraska Omaha (Division II Elite Eight)

2018 (0-1)

• Lost 1-0 vs. Ohio Valley (at Ferris State)

2019 (0-1)

• Lost 1-0 (OT) vs. McKendree (at Grand Valley State)

2021 (0-1)

• Lost 1-0 (2OT) at home vs. Drury

2022 (0-0-1)

• Tied 1-1 (2OT) vs. Ferris State (at Cedarville, lost on penalty kicks)

2023 (2-0)

• Won 3-0 at home vs. Michigan Tech
• Won 2-0 at home vs. Cedarville
• NEXT GAME: Friday (Dec. 1) at 6 p.m. at Ferguson Field vs. Grand Valley State