NEW HAVEN, Conn. (Oct. 31, 2010) – Wilmington University has earned the top seed for the upcoming Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Women’s Soccer Tournament after going through the regular-season with a 12-0 conference record. The Wildcats are 14-4 overall. The tournament gets underway with quarter-final contests on Monday, Nov. 1 at 2:00 pm.

Chestnut Hill College secured the No. 2 seed this year, while Philadelphia University is No. 3. Holy Family University is seeded fourth. Wilmington, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia and Holy Family will host quarter-final games at their home fields by finishing as the top four seeds.

Wilmington out-scored conference foes 28-7 this season en route to a perfect record. Wilmington is the first team to go through the conference schedule undefeated and untied since Holy Family turned the trick with an 11-0 mark in 2007. Sophomore Brittany Rhodes leads the way with 23 points and 10 goals to rank sixth in the conference in both categories. She is also tied for first with seven game-winning goals this year. Amanda Davis is tied for third with six assists, while Brooke Eveler paces the CACC with a 0.58 goal-against average after surrendering only six goals in 12 appearances this season. She also leads with a .921 save percentage.

Wilmington will face No. 8 Felician College in the opening round. The Wildcats upended the Golden Falcons earlier this season on Oct. 16 by a 2-0 count. Felician is led by senior DJ Jacobowitz, who enters the postseason ranked seventh in the conference with 22 points, including eight goals and six assists. JoJo Pisani has contributed 19 points (eight goals, three assists). 

Chestnut Hill enjoyed its most successful season since joining the CACC by going 10-1-1 in conference play and 13-3-2 overall. The Griffins were ranked in the East Region for the first time in program history during the course of the season. The Griffins are led by junior Lauren Riiff’s 32 points, which ranks second in the CACC. She has tallied 14 goals (second in the CACC) and four assists. Freshman Steph Litty currently leads the CACC with eight assists, while sophomore goalie Jessica Veazey ranks third in goals-against average (0.74) and save percentage (.868).

The Griffins will face Dominican College in the quarter-finals for the second consecutive season. The Chargers upset the No. 3 Griffins, 2-1, in last season’s opening round. Dominican is led by freshman Olivia Antonopoulos, who ranks fifth in the conference with 24 points on 11 goals and two assists. She stands fourth in the CACC in goals scored. Kristen Haycook ranks second in the league in assists with seven. Chestnut Hill upended Dominican on the road earlier this season, 3-1, back on Oct. 2.

Philadelphia University will be the third seed after going 9-3 in conference action and 9-6-3 overall. The Lady Rams have advanced to at least the semi-finals of the tournament each year since 2006, including a championship in 2006 and finals appearances in 2007 and 2008. Freshman Janine Cascio ranked just outside the CACC’s top 10 in points with 18 this year behind eight goals and two assists. Her eight goals are tied for ninth. Sophomore goalie Kelly Kowalewski stands fifth in the CACC in goals-against average (1.09) and save percentage (.816). PhilaU will face No. 6 Georgian Court in the quarter-finals. Philadelphia scored a 3-0 victory over GCU in the regular season. GCU will be led by Kelly Lyons, who leads the CACC with 17 goals and 35 points entering postseason play. GCU went 6-5-1 in the CACC this season and 8-8-2 overall. GCU fell in the CACC Championship to Holy Family University last season and won the title in 2008.

Holy Family will be looking for its second straight CACC Championship and will host No. 5 Caldwell College in the quarter-final round. The Tigers defeated Georgian Court, 1-0, to take home the 2009 title. Holy Family is 1-0 against Caldwell this season, having defeated the Cougars, 3-2, in overtime on Oct. 3. Holy Family enters the postseason 11-5-1 overall and 8-3-1 in conference play, while the Cougars are 10-7 overall and went 8-4 in conference action. Both teams enter the tournament riding hot streaks. Holy Family has won eight of its last nine games, while Caldwell won five of its final six conference contests to claim the No. 5 seed.

Holy Family is led by sophomore Megan Tole’s 29 points, which ranks third in the CACC. Junior Dawn Curry is right behind her with 25 points. Lindsay Fisher has dished out six assists this season to tie for third in the CACC. For Caldwell, Julie Crankshaw is tied for 10th in the CACC with eight goals, while goalie Kristina Cabales stands second in both goals-against average (0.71) and save percentage (.902).   

2010 CACC Women’s Soccer Tournament
Quarterfinals – Monday, Nov. 1
#8 Felician at #1 Wilmington – 2:00 pm
#7 Dominican at #2 Chestnut Hill – 2:00 pm
#6 Georgian Court at #3 Philadelphia – 2:00 pm
#5 Caldwell at #4 Holy Family – 2:00 pm

Semi-Finals – Thursday, Nov. 4 at Georgian Court University
Game 1 - 11:00 am (highest remaining seed)
Game 2 - 1:30 pm

Championship Match – Saturday, Nov. 6 at Georgian Court University
11:00 am