NAIA First and Second Round Coming To Caldwell

Caldwell, Idaho – The College of Idaho Women's Soccer team has been selected as a five seed for the NAIA First and Second Round of the 2024 Women's Soccer National Championship. The College of Idaho will serve as a host site for the tournament and will hold the games at Simplot Stadium and will host Westcliff Univ.(Calif.) and Hope International Univ. (Calif).  The first game will be a matchup between Westcliff and Hope International which will take place on November 21st at 2:00 PM (MT) at Simplot Stadium. The winner of that game will advance to play The College of Idaho on November 23rd at 12:00 PM (MT), also at Simplot Stadium .

Read more about the three teams competing for a spot at the NAIA Final Site in Pensacola, Fla.

Meet the Team From Caldwell

The College of Idaho (17-0-2, 12-0 CCC)

The College of Idaho Yotes delivered a season for the ages in 2024, achieving an undefeated record in Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) play for the second straight year. The Yotes finished with a perfect 12-0 conference record and a flawless CCC tournament run, scoring 14 goals while conceding none. They finished in the final NAIA poll at No. 10 in the nation.

Key Players

1. Larisa Wegner
   • CCC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference 
   • Scored 10 goals and earned 4 assists
   • 5 of her goals were game winners
2. Eden Makaafi: 
   • First Team All-CCC
   • co-led team with 13 goals and added 1 assist
   • Scored the game winner against Oregon Tech in the CCC Championship game
3. Alexis Eiguren
   • First Team All-CCC
   • co-led the team with 13 goals  and added 4 assists
4. Kyndra Lyons
   • First Team All-CCC
   • Lyons added 3 assists, playing a key role in midfield transitions and defensive setups.
5. Isabel DeVille
   • First Team All-CCC
   •  DeVille's defensive skills were pivotal, helping the Yotes maintain their low goals-against record.

Season Highlights

• The Yotes haven't failed to win a regular season conference game since October 2022
• College of Idaho beat then No. 13 Embry Riddle Aeuronautical Univ. (Ariz.) 1-0 and Tied now No. 25 UC Merced 1-1
• The offense has scored a total of 73 goals this season and are averaging 3.8 goals a game
• The defense has held strong in only giving up 9 goals all season with an average of 0.47 goals against a game
• Head Coach Brian Smith earned CCC Coach of the Year honors

Meet the Teams Coming To Caldwell

Westcliff University (12-0-2, 6-0-1 Cal Pac)

The Westcliff Warriors women's soccer team had an exceptional 2024 season, capturing the California Pacific Conference (Cal Pac) championship and earning an automatic berth to the NAIA National Championships. Their season was marked by a strong defensive record and key contributions from standout players.

Key Players

1. Jysabella Tolentino:

   • Named Cal Pac Player of the Year.
   • Delivered a clutch assist in the Cal Pac final, setting up the game-winning goal.
   • Scored 14 goals and 2 assists this season

2. Jordyn Gather:

   • Awarded Cal Pac Freshman of the Year.
   • Scored the decisive goal in the 87th minute of the championship match against No. 25 UC Merced.
   • Contributed five goals and three assists

3. Kayli Cokley:

   • The Cal Pac Defensive Player of the Year.
   • Recorded crucial saves throughout the season, including a standout performance in the championship game, where she managed to keep a clean sheet.

Season Highlights

• Westcliff finished the regular season undefeated in conference play and as Co-Cal Pac regular season champions, with a 12-0-2 record.
• They secured the Cal Pac title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over UC Merced, who outshot them 14-4 but could not break through their resilient defense. The championship-winning goal was a brilliant play involving Tolentino and Gather, showcasing their synergy and composure under pressure.
• A dominant 4-0 win against Pacific Union in the regular season displayed their attacking prowess.

No. 23 Hope International University (14-4-1, 11-2-1 GSAC)

The Hope International University (HIU) Royals showcased a strong season, earning an at-large bid to the NAIA opening round. The Royals, led by a mix of dynamic forwards and a resilient defense, finished third in the GSAC and fell short in the conference tournament, losing a hard-fought semifinal match to The Master's University 1-0. The Royals are currently on a three game losing skid.

Key Players:

1. Christiane Sundstrom
   • Named GSAC Player of the Year
   • Scored 18 goals and contributed six assists, ranking in the NAIA's top 10 for total points.
2. Ryley Candelario:
   • Scored seven goals and had five assists
   • All-GSAC
3. Ashlyn Edwards:
   • Scored goals and five assists
   • All-GSAC
4. Haley Slouka:
   • In goal, Slouka posted a 1.07 goals-against average with three shutouts
5. Jessica Cervantes:
   • Anchoring the defense, the junior defender played a pivotal role in limiting opponents to 22 goals across 17 games, helping secure six shutouts.

Season Highlights:

• The Royals started the conference season strong by winning 11 out of the first 12 games
• Hope International played two intense matches against No. 15 Embry-Riddle (Ariz.), including a 0-0 draw early in the season, followed by a narrow 1-0 loss in the regular-season finale.
• In key conference victories, Sundstrom's scoring prowess often made the difference, including a two-goal performance in a 2-1 win over Arizona Christian.