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Paul Smith’s women’s soccer team makes first ever national championship appearance

The Paul Smith’s College women’s soccer team will play in the 2021 Division II national championship game in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association tournament in Virginia Beach today.

A victory at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex would give the Bobcats their first national women’s soccer title in their first appearance. It would also complete a perfect season.

Paul Smith’s captured its conference regular and post-season championships, winning the Yankee Small College Conference tournament with consecutive shutouts of New Hampshire Technical Institute and Albany Pharmacy. With the victory, Paul Smith’s became the automatic qualifier and top seed in the national tournament.

Entering the national championship contest against number-two seed State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Paul Smith’s College sports a record of 11-0-1, having outscored their opponents this season 47-8 with seven shutouts.

Entering pool play in the USCAA tournament, the Bobcats came from behind on Friday to eliminate Johnson and Wales 2-1. Trailing 1-0 in the first half, Samantha Severing knotted the score before Ruth Marscham delivered the game-winner prior to the intermission. The tightly-contested soccer match saw the Bobcats outshoot the Wildcats 14-11.

Paul Smith’s turned around the next day to take on Penn State Mont Alto. Despite a lopsided advantage in shots, 20-7, the contest went to double overtime with neither team scoring in regulation time. When double OT began, Kate Roefs, Hayleigh Gates and Haven Brady converted penalty kicks, while keeper Anna Thrasher preserved the victory with a game-winning save.

The USCAA D-II National Championship between the two New York colleges will start at 12:30 p.m. The game will be live-streamed on USCAAsportsnetwork.com.

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