MEC Championship Game Preview: #1N Frostburg State vs #1S Charleston (WV)
FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Soccer team is set to travel to Charleston (WV) for the 2023 Mountain East Conference Championship Game on Sunday afternoon.
How They Got Here: The Bobcats come into the game as the North Division one seed, having clinched their fourth straight division title. FSU is riding a 12-game unbeaten streak and sports a record of 17-1-2, including an 11-1-2 MEC record, which is the second-best mark in the conference. They defeated Glenville State 1-0 at home in the quarterfinal round, then took down Concord 3-0 in Bobcat Stadium to reach their third-straight championship game appearance.
UC, the fifth-ranked team in the country, currently sports a record of 17-0-3, including a 13-0-2 record in conference. The Golden Eagles secured their spot in the championship with a 3-1 victory over Fairmont State followed up by a 1-0 decision in overtime against West Virginia State.
The Matchup: The all-time series between the two teams is tied at three wins apiece, with Charleston taking this year's match-up 1-0 in Frostburg, snapping a three-game losing streak to the Bobcats.
The Players: FSU is led offensively by senior Toni Fiocco-Mizer, a First Team All-MEC selection with eight goals and five assists. She is supported in attack by junior Madi Allen (eight goals, one assist) and sophomore Morgan Mrizek (one goal, seven assists). The midfield provides added goals from sophomore Carly Gillette (six goals, two assists), senior Lela Clark (four goals, two assists), and junior Keely Knotts (three goals), with senior Second Team All-MEC member Hannah Thompson (one goal, three assists) providing a shield in front of the back four. Defensively, FSU has four All-MEC honorees in junior center backs Cat Smith (seven goals, two assists) and Mei Homman (four assists), wide back Carolyn DeSena (two assists), and senior goalkeeper Ashley Bilger.
Charleston boasts every major conference award winner across their ranks, with the headliner being Offensive Player of the Year Lina Jaime (10 goals, 10 assists). She is joined in a powerful attack by Freshman of the Year Juliette Lucas (10 goals, seven assists), Sophia Mankowski (10 goals, four assists), and Frankie Morow (seven goals, six assists). The midfield boasts a pair of All-MEC players in First Team selection Carina Widauer (six goals, seven assists) and Honorable Mention Michelle Wenger (two goals, one assist). In defense, the Golden Eagles boast the Defensive Player of the Year in Angela Gatto (four goals), alongside First Team member Hannah Goes (two goals, two assists) and Honorable Mention Anna Van Der Reijden (one goal, one assist) with Jordan Maynard in goal as a Second Team All-MEC player.
Sunday, NOV. 5 - QUARTERFINALS
#4S Glenville at #1N Frostburg State – FSU wins 1-0
#4N Fairmont State at #1S Charleston – UC wins 3-1
#3S West Virginia State at #2N Notre Dame – WVSU wins 2-1
#3N West Liberty at #2S Concord – CU wins 2-1
Wednesday, NOV. 8 - SEMIFINALS
#2S Concord at #1N Frostburg State – FSU wins 3-0
#3S West Virginia State at #1S Charleston – UC wins 1-0
SUNDAY, NOV. 12 - CHAMPIONSHIP
#1N Frostburg State at #1S Charleston - 1 p.m.*
Latest Women's Soccer Stories
- Women's Soccer Receives 16th Consecutive Ethics and Sportsmanship AwardThe Frostburg State Women's Soccer program once again was among the recipients of the United Soccer Coaches Ethics and Sportsmanship Award, the 16th straight season with the honor.
- Thompson and Bilger Announced CSC Academic All-Americans for Women's SoccerSeniors Hannah Thompson and Ashley Bilger were named CSC Academic All-Americans, as announced on Wednesday by College Sports Communicators.
- Smith Announced D2CCA Third Team All-AmericanJunior Cat Smitt was announced D2CCA Third Team All-American on Wednesday, by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association.
- Four Selected to All-Region Team for Women's SoccerThe 2023 United Soccer Coaches announced NCAA Division II Women's All-Atlantic Region teams on Monday, with seniors Ashley Bilger, Toni Fiocco-Mizer, and Hannah Thompson, along with junior Cat Smith receiving the honors.
- Cat Smith Named D2CCA Women's Soccer First Team All-RegionJunior defender Cat Smith was named D2CCA First Team All-Region on Tuesday, as announced by the organization.
- Five Earn College Sports Communicators Academic All-District for Women's SoccerSeniors Ashley Bilger, Toni Fiocco-Mizer, and Hannah Thompson, along with juniors Carolyn DeSena and Cat Smith, all received CSC Academic All-District Honors, announced and selected by College Sports Communicators.
