Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm thankful for everyone that took time to post this year on the Women's Soccer boards.  With this post, we have had 203 posts this year (so far) over 6 topics.  During 2024 there were a total of 58 posts and during 2023 just 47 posts.  So by the end of the year we may very well quadruple last years total.  I know I know - a lot of the increase is because of all of my posts (sorry for making your eyes bleed  ), but even without my 125 posts, we are still 35% ahead of last years total (78 vs 58).

So thanks to the following people for taking time to post this year:

   SimpleCoach
   JR
   Ron Boerger
   WLCALUM83
   Kuiper
   Mr_November
   BusyBee
   DagarmanSpartan
   WUPHF
   deiscanton
   rdanie03

With starting the final chapter of the season (the NCAA tournament), I thought I would start a new topic since we are not really focused on the top 25 anymore but watching how the tournament unfolds.

The NCAA protects the top 8 teams (based on the final (Selections) NPI ranking) meaning that no team in the top 8 will face another top 8 team until the 'elite 8' round (4th round or sectional final games).

This year #1 Wash U is paired in their section with #8 Messiah (second year in a row for this pairing).  #2 Emory is paired in their section with #6 Wash & Lee.  #3 Tufts is paired with #7 Williams, and #4 Chicago is paired with #5 Case Western.

Interestingly, last year (2024), of the 'protected' top 8 teams only 2 teams (Wash U and Christopher Newport) even made it to the sectional finals.