NCAA TOURNAMENT – ATLANTIC REGION FIRST ROUND
EDINBORO Fighting Scots (13-4-1) vs. CHARLESTON (W.V.) Golden Eagles (14-3-3)
Date: Friday, November 11, 2016
Site: Kutztown University – Kutztown, Pa.
Stadium: Keystone Field
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/kutztown/wsoc/
Tournament Website: http://www.kubears.com/sports/2016/11/7/WSOC_0508145736.aspx
 
Game Preview
The Edinboro University women's soccer team, after securing the sixth seed for the NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament, heads to Kutztown University on Friday, November 11 for a first-round matchup against third-seeded Charleston (W.V.) at 1:00 p.m. The winner will take on the second-seeded Golden Bears in the Atlantic Region semifinals on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The Fighting Scots are 13-4-1 with a 12-3-1 PSAC record. The Golden Eagles are 14-3-3 overall and finished runners-up in the MEC with a 13-2-1 league mark.
 
Friday's contest will be a rematch of last year's first-round regional match, where Edinboro prevailed over Charleston (W.V.) in penalty kicks, 3-1, after a playing to a 0-0 tie at Gannon University. This marks the Fighting Scots' fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last six years.
 
Head coach Gary Kagiavas' team is in the midst of their best season since 2012. They earned the third seed in the PSAC Tournament, but fell in overtime to sixth-seeded Gannon, 1-0, in the league quarterfinals on November 1. The Fighting Scots look to replicate their NCAA Tournament success from a year ago, where after beating the Golden Eagles, they upset top-seeded Gannon, 2-1 in overtime, in the regional semifinals. Edinboro fell to PSAC-champion East Stroudsburg, 2-0, in the Atlantic Region Finals, hosted by the University of Bridgeport. It marked Edinboro's first-ever trip to the NCAA Sweet 16 and the first time they advanced past the first round.
 
Edinboro looks to have its offense at the ready against a Charleston (W.V.) squad that has held opponents to just nine goals all season. The Golden Eagles have posted 12 shutouts, including a stretch of five straight shutout victories. Junior midfielder Ashley Mutkus and senior forward Alex Brown are Edinboro's top scorers with 23 points (fourth in the PSAC) and 22 points (fifth in the PSAC), respectively. Mutkus, a second-team All-PSAC selection, is tied for third in the PSAC with ten goals and is tenth all-time with 23 career goals. Brown, a third-team all-league choice, is tied for fifth in the conference with nine goals and is eighth all-time with 27 career goals and ninth with 67 career points.
 
Junior goalkeeper Sarah Baskey earned third team all-league recognition with a 13-4-1 record, tying her school season wins record from last year. She ranks third in the PSAC with a 0.65 GAA and holds a .789 save percentage with seven shutouts. She is second all-time with 26 career wins and fourth with 12 career shutouts.
 
Charleston (W.V.) is making its second straight and second overall NCAA Tournament appearance. The Golden Eagles defeated West Virginia Wesleyan in the MEC semifinals, 1-0, before falling to Notre Dame (Ohio) on penalty kicks, 4-2, after playing to a 0-0 tie in the league finals. The Golden Eagles were the MEC's lone at-large selection for the tournament, with the Falcons earning the league's automatic bid as the fourth seed in the region.
 
Series History
Edinboro leads 3-0-1
Last Meeting – NCAA Atlantic Region First Round -- Nov. 13, 2015 -- Edinboro 0, Charleston (W.V.) 0 (Edinboro, 3-1, in PK)
Harsh weather conditions and winds of up to 40-45 mph at Gannon University caused Edinboro and Charleston (W.V.) to suffer through three lightning delays and two overtimes of scoreless action. The match was ultimately decided on penalty kicks, where Edinboro goalkeeper Sierra Davis turned away three Golden Eagles' shots to help the Fighting Scots prevail, 3-1, and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. Starting goalie Sarah Baskey played the first 61:39 before giving way to Davis. The two combined for six saves. Edinboro outshout Charleston (W.V.), 25-17, but goalkeeper Zoe Zyta kept the Fighting Scots off the scoreboard with 15 saves.
 
All-Time Scores vs. Charleston (W.V.)
2016 – Edinboro 0, Charleston (W.V.) 0 (Edinboro, 3-1, in PK)
(at NCAA Atlantic Region First Round)
2011 -- at Edinboro 3, Charleston(W.V.) 0
2003 -- at Edinboro 3, Charleston(W.V.) 1
1999 -- Edinboro 9, Charleston(W.V.) 1
(at West Va. Wesleyan Tournament)
 
Scouting the Charleston (W.V.) Golden Eagles
Record: 14-3-3
Head Coach: Todd Diuguid
 
Todd Diuguid is wrapping up his 16th season as the head coach at Charleston (W.V.) in 2016. He earned his 100^th career win in 2014, and has led the Golden Eagles to the MEC Finals the last two years. Diuguid has over 25 years of soccer experience as a player, referee, and coach. He was named the 2010 WVIAC Coach-of-the-Year. Diuguid played at Marshall University, where he lettered all four years as a central defender/forward and graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Criminal Justice.
 
Players to Watch

• Marieke Kramer (F, So.) – leads the team with 22 points and nine goals, and is second with four assists. She was a first team All-MEC choice this year.
• Ivey Nucelli (MF, Jr.) – second on the team with 16 points and seven goals. She was selected to the All-MEC second team.
• Zoe Zyta (GK, Jr.) – second team All-MEC selection after going 13-3-2 with a 0.43 GAA and .873 save percentage.
• Ida Garberg (MF, So.) – named MEC Offensive Player of the Year. Leads the team with five assists and is tied for third with 11 points.
• Marlee Coleman (MF, So.) – named MEC Defensive Player of the Year after after spearheading a defense that has allowed just nine goals and posted 12 shutouts.
• Cassandra Forster (F, Fr.) – named MEC Freshman of the Year after tallying five points on one goal and three assists.

 
The Road to the NCAA Atlantic Regional
PSAC Quarterfinals – Gannon 1, Edinboro 0 (OT)
On October 11, the two local rivals battled through two overtimes before settling for a scoreless tie. This match had a similar feel until Hannah Manczka gathered in a short pass from Emily Cekella and blasted a long shot from 45 yards out over the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Sarah Baskey. The goal was the first score between the two teams in 209 minutes and 29 seconds. Just minutes earlier, Edinboro had appeared to win the contest on a header by Alex Root. Root took a long pass from Ashley Mutkus and headed the ball in, but Gannon was called for a foul on Mutkus, stopping action just before the goal.
Edinboro held a 6-2 lead in shots at the half, but Gannon gained momentum halfway through the second half and would finish with a 15-12 advantage in shots. Sarah Baskey finished with two saves, while Shannon Differ had five saves.
 
The Rest of the Region
West Chester received the number-one seed for the NCAA Atlantic Regional with an 18-0-1 overall record and 16-0-0 PSAC mark. They will host the first-round matchup between league winners fourth-seeded Notre Dame (Ohio) (MEC) and fifth-seeded East Stroudsburg (PSAC) on Friday, November 11 at 12 noon. The Golden Rams will play the winner of that contest in the regional semifinals on Sunday, November 13 at 12 noon.