Women's Soccer 11/28/2021 11:00:00 AM

Women’s Soccer Hopes for Deep Run at NCCAA National Championship

The OUAZ women's soccer team will return to action this week at the NCCAA National Championship in Kissimmee, Fla., with thoughts of making a run to a title. OUAZ – the tournament's No. 3 seed – will open pool play on Monday against No. 7 seed Oakland City before facing No. 4 seed Bob Jones on Wednesday. Both pool play games will begin at 4 p.m. (AZ).

The three pool winners and the second-place team with the highest winning percentage in pool play will advance to the semifinals on Friday. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday.

Every game of the NCCAA National Championship will be broadcast live on the NCCAA Network, which is available at nccaanetwork.com. The NCCAA Network is also available on all Amazon Fire, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku devices.

OUAZ enters its fourth NCCAA National Championship at 11-4-3 overall after going 4-1-3 in GSAC games. The Spirit reached the semifinals of the GSAC Tournament as the No. 3 seed, but they haven't played since November 11.

This year's team is looking to complete the climb at the NCCAA National Championship after the Spirit has gotten closer to winning the title in each trip. After going winless in pool play in 2017, OUAZ made the semifinal in 2018 and lost in the championship game in 2019. They are 4-4-1 all-time at the annual tournament and 1-0 in games decided with penalty kicks.

OUAZ enters the week scoring 2.33 goals per game to rank 11th in the NCCAA. They have scored multiple goals in a game 11 times this season while taking 14.89 shots per game, with 54.5 percent of those attempts on goal.

Cassidi Calzaretta leads the Spirit with 12 goals and 27 points. She ranks eighth in the NCCAA in both categories, while her five game-winning goals are fourth in the association. Calzaretta has scored multiple goals in a game four times, and she currently is on a two-game point streak.

Saipress Jones has added nine goals and two assists for 20 points during the year. She has tallied a point in three straight games entering the week and scored three game-winning goals.

With its 0.91 goals-against-average entering the Championship, OUAZ ranks second in the NCCAA, and the Spirit is the only team in the field with a GAA below 1.00. The Spirit's eight shutouts are the second-most in program history. OUAZ is fourth in the NCCAA with its .819 save percentage.

Chloe Gutierrez is 5-3-2 in goal this season with a 0.96 GAA and .833 save percentage. She ranks third in the NCCAA in both of those categories. Gutierrez has three individual shutouts, and she has been involved in another two combined shutouts.

Cassidy Samuelson has a 4-1-1 record with two shutouts. She begins the week with a 1.11 GAA and .750 save percentage. Samuelson only allowed more than one goal in a game once in her seven starts.

OUAZ will face both Oakland City and Bob Jones for the first time in program history when the teams meet in pool play. They are the fourth and fifth new program's the Spirit has met for the first time this season. OUAZ is 2-1 in those previous games after defeating Thomas (Ga.) and Westcliff while losing to Georgia Gwinnett.

Oakland City brings an 8-10-1 record into the week, and the Mighty Oaks have lost four of the last five games they have played. They rank sixth in the NCCAA by scoring 2.63 goals per game, while their 1.64 GAA is 15th.

Claudia Melgar leads the Mighty Oaks with 13 goals and 32 assists. She has three games this season with multiple goals while attempting 4.11 shots per game. Kennedy Hospelhorn has scored 10 goals with five game-winning strikes. Jillian Beem and Annabelle Lansdale have split time in goal, with each posting a 1.65 GAA.

Bob Jones starts the Championship with an 18-2-1 record after posting a 16-game winning streak at one point this season. The Bruins lead the NCCAA by scoring 3.76 goals per game, and they scored at least three goals in a game 17 times.

Five different Bruins have reached double digits in goals scored this season, with Mia Marks leading the team with 20 goals and 46 points. Anna Grace Abrams has added 13 goals and eight assists, and Kayle Stevenson has 12 goals. Susanna Hutson has recorded a 0.98 GAA, and .844 save percentage in her 10 starts in goal.

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Players Mentioned

#16 Cassidi Calzaretta: F; 5' 7"; Junior

#00 Chloe Gutierrez: GK; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#28 Saipress Jones: F; 5' 8"; Junior

#1 Cassidy Samuelson: GK; 5' 9"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#16 Cassidi Calzaretta
: 5' 7"; Junior
: F

#00 Chloe Gutierrez
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: GK

#28 Saipress Jones
: 5' 8"; Junior
: F

#1 Cassidy Samuelson
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: GK