Five teams know they will be playing the Horizon League Women's Soccer Tournament. With only two seeds set, plenty is on the line Friday night, when four matches will help decide where teams are headed starting Tuesday along with determining the final team in the field. The complete tournament bracket will be posted early Saturday morning.
Valparaiso at Youngstown State - 3 p.m. ET - Horizon League Network | Live Stats
The day's first match takes place in Youngstown, where Valparaiso (8-6-3, 4-2-1 Horizon) will be looking to wrap up the No. 3 seed in the Horizon League Tournament versus Youngstown State (3-10-3, 0-5-2 Horizon). A win clinches the seed for the Crusaders, who can finish no worse than the No. 4 seed, which would take a loss or tie combined with a Wright State victory.
Youngstown State will be wrapping up the season, in which the Penguins once again had a freshman lead the team in scoring. A year after Allison Ludwig paced the team, Jade Flory has recorded seven goals and three assists this season, ranking second in goals and fourth in points (19) in the Horizon League.
The Valpo defense has been stout all year, allowing just six goals in conference play. Kristen Manski has been solid in net for the Crusaders, turning in six shutouts, the last coming against Butler last week.
Loyola at Butler - 7 p.m. ET - Live Stats
Currently sitting in fifth in the Horizon League standings, Butler (8-8-1, 3-4-0 Horizon) hosts Loyola (5-10-3, 1-4-2 Horizon) looking to claim a home match in the opening round of the League Tournament. The Ramblers are three points back of Cleveland State for the sixth and final spot, but are on the wrong end of tiebreakers that could arise following a victory.
With 9 points, Butler is two points back of Wright State for fourth in the standings; a victory over the Ramblers combined with a WSU loss or tie would lift the Bulldogs into hosting duties on Tuesday. Butler snapped a three-match losing streak at Green Bay last week to move into position for a tournament bid.
Loyola suffered through its own losing streak earlier this year after a 3-1-1 start to the season. Anna Michelini has been leading the Rambler attack throughout the season, contributing four goals and an assist.
Cleveland State at Wright State - 7 p.m. ET - Horizon League Network | Live Stats
The match that may go the furthest towards determining the final spot in the Horizon League Tournament will be played in Dayton, where Wright State (8-6-3, 3-2-2 Horizon) hosts Cleveland State (9-6-2, 2-3-2 Horizon). A win by the Raiders gives them hosting duties as either the No. 3 or 4 seed. The Vikings need a sole point to clinch a tournament spot; however, a victory, combined with a Butler loss or tie to Loyola, would elevate CSU into the No. 4 sed on Tuesday.
The Raiders have not dropped a match since Oct. 5, going 3-0-1 in that span to move into position for first round hosting duties. I'esha King has been a major part of Wright State's success of late, recording three goals and an assist - the first three goals of her career.
CSU has matched its single season record with nine wins and its offense is on the verge of setting a single-season mark for goals with 23, one off the mark.
Green Bay at #15 Milwaukee - 8 p.m. ET - Horizon League Network | Live Stats
Green Bay (3-10-4, 1-4-2 Horizon) needs to win at No. 15 Milwaukee (15-2-0, 7-0-0 Horizon) at get help in Dayton in order to reach the Horizon League Tournament. The Panthers have already wrapped up the top seed and hosting duties at Engelmann Stadium, but will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing non-conference road loss at Illinois State.
For the Phoenix, Maddie Drusch will be tasked with keeping one the country's top offenses out of the net; on the year, Drusch has turned in five shutouts while making a League-high 94 saves.
Trying to beat Drusch will be a host of Panthers led by Sarah Hagen, who is on the verge of her third career season with 20 or more goals. With 19 goals on the year, Hagen ranks third in the NCAA.
