MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee women's soccer team will play No. 11 Xavier in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The postseason contest will take place November 13 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Full NCAA Bracket (PDF)
The team found out its first-round matchup late this afternoon when the field and bracket for the 2021 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship were announced by the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Committee on NCAA.com.
"It's exciting to be in and knowing who our opponent is now," head coach
Troy Fabiano said at the watch party. "Obviously, now we have some research to do but I know we had some common opponents."
The Panthers (18-1) and the Musketeers (16-2-1) will square off November 13 at Corcoran Field in Cincinnati, Ohio. Kick-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. CST. The winner of the match will face the winner of the match between No. 1 seed Virginia and High Point.
"It's always a great feeling," Fabiano said of the NCAA bid. "It's what you work for every day – it's why you wake up early in the summer and go work out on your own. This is what you play for."
The Panthers are making their 15th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and 14th with the Horizon League's automatic berth. Milwaukee made previous tournament trips in 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008-13, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Milwaukee is led by a potent offense, as well as the stingiest defense in the country. The Panthers enter the postseason as the NCAA leader in total goals (62), total points (203), total assists (79), and shots on-goal per game (10.7) on offense, as well as save percentage (.908) and goals-against average (0.31) on defense.
Horizon League Player of the Year
Mackenzie Schill leads a very balanced offense that includes three players with 20-plus points, as well as seven in double-figures. The team is coming off five consecutive shutouts and have won 13 games in a row for the first time in program history. The 18 total victories also stands just one away from the program record of 19.
Schill tops the conference with a career-high 29 points (12G/5A), with Horizon League Tournament MVP
Lesley Kiesling close behind with 24 points (10G/4A).
Gaby Schwartz gives the team three with over 20 points, as she has tallied 23 on the strength of 19 assists – a new school record and a total that has led the NCAA since the first week of the season.
Schill and Schwartz were joined on the All-Horizon League First Team by
Jelena Sever (16 points/7G/2A) and
Rachel Phillpotts (16 points/6G/4A), who was also named Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year. In net,
Elaina LaMacchia was selected as Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year and sits first in the NCAA with her 0.36 GAA and .897 save percentage.
Xavier checks in at 16-2-1 on the season, setting a program record for regular-season wins. Among other marks set by the 2021 Musketeers are the highest RPI (7) and the highest national ranking (#11) from the United Soccer Coaches in program history. The Musketeers wrapped up the regular season with their second Big East regular-season title in three years, collected three Big East postseason awards and had six earn all-conference honors, highlighted by Olivia Jenkins earning league Goalkeeper of the Year accolades.
In the past, MKE has also been sent to Minnesota (1997), Madison (2009/2019), Ann Arbor (2013), California (2018), North Carolina (2020), Notre Dame three times (2006, 08, 12) and across town to Marquette four times (2001-02, 2005, 2010). They also hosted their 2011 first-round match.
First round action will be played November 12-14, while the second/third rounds will be held November 19 and 21, with the quarterfinals on November 26 or 27. This 40th annual NCAA Women's College Cup will be played Dec. 3 and 5 at Stevens Stadium in Santa Clara, California, with Santa Clara University, the West Coast Conference, and the San Jose Sports Authority all serving as hosts. The first national semifinal will be played and broadcast live on ESPNU at 7 p.m. Eastern time Friday, Dec. 3, followed by the second semifinal beginning at approximately 9:30 p.m. Eastern time live on ESPNU. The national championship match will take place at 8 p.m. Eastern time Sunday, Dec. 5 and will also broadcast live on ESPNU.
