NCAA Division III Championship Tournament - Sweet Sixteen
Penn State Harrisburg (16-5-4) vs. Mary Washington (13-3-5)  |  Saturday, Nov. 22  |  1:30 p.m.  |  Middlebury College  |  South Street Field  |  Middlebury, Vt.
[Live Video]  [Live Stats]  [Bracket]  [Digital Program]  [Game Notes] 


Making its first NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen appearance in program history, Penn State Harrisburg earned the chance to avenge an early-season setback against Mary Washington with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line.

 

LIVE VIDEO
(WATCH) All games will be streamed live and for free via the NCAA.


LIVE STATS
(FOLLOW) Fans can keep up with all the action in real time with live stats.


GOING TO THE GAME
(DIRECTIONS) Tickets will go on sale at South Street Field on Saturday at 10 a.m. and on Sunday at 12 p.m. Tickets will be $6 for adults and $3 for students and seniors each day. Only cash will be accepted. 


SO SWEET
Last weekend, Penn State Harrisburg emerged victorious from the four-team pod at No. 14 Christopher Newport to advance to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament for the first time in program history. The Lions knocked off the hosts in their opening contest, using a header from Abigail Frew in the final minutes off a Diana Pon free ball to secure a thrilling 2-1 victory over a CNU squad that allowed just five goals all season. Pon also netted the game's first goal early in the second half. The next night, Penn State Harrisburg punched its ticket to the Sweet Sixteen and shut out No. 11 Rowan 1-0 when Kylie Yap lofted a perfectly-placed attempt into the back of the net off a rebounded corner kick insertion with just 82 seconds remaining. The women's soccer team is the first Penn State Harrisburg athletic program in school history to advance past the NCAA Tournament's Second Round.




HARRISBURG IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Penn State Harrisburg is in the midst of its third NCAA Tournament run after qualifying for the big dance twice prior in 2021 and 2024. The Lions won the program's first conference championship in 2009 but due to Penn State Harrisburg recently joining the ranks of NCAA Division III, the program was unable to receive the conference's automatic bid. Penn State Harrisburg is 2-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, as the Lions fell to No. 7 McDaniel 2-0 in the team's first contest in 2021 before being edged 2-1 by the eventual national runners-up from No. 11 William Smith in 2024, with Julia Hughes having the distinction of being the first Penn State Harrisburg player to score a goal in the NCAA Tournament. During the team's current NCAA run, the Lions knocked off the hosts from No. 14 Christopher Newport 2-1 on Saturday evening before blanking No. 11 Rowan 1-0 the next night to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.




CONTINUED SUCCESS
As evidenced by its third trip to the NCAA Tournament in the last five seasons, Penn State Harrisburg is in the midst of the most successful era in program history. Since head coach Brandon West took over prior to the 2021 campaign, the Lions have won 61 games and three conference championships, while making three NCAA Tournament appearances during that span. 


SO WE MEET AGAIN
Once upon a time, Penn State Harrisburg and Mary Washington were both members of the former Capital Athletic Conference (now Coast-to-Coast Conference) and faced off on an annual basis. The Lions joined the United East Conference (formerly North Eastern Athletic Conference) prior to the 2019 campaign, ending the yearly matchups between the programs. This weekend in the NCAA Tournament, Penn State Harrisburg and the Eagles will meet for the second time in postseason play, as the teams also faced off once before in playoff action in the 2018 CAC Tournament. In the seven games against UMW from 2013 to 2018, the Lions emerged victorious just once, winning 2-1 in the regular season matchup in 2015. The programs rekindled their series beginning in 2024. Penn State Harrisburg is 0-1-1 in those matchups, including a 1-0 setback at Mary Washington earlier this season.


IT'S A MAJOR AWARD
Thanks to his efforts in leading his squad to the most historic season in program history, Penn State Harrisburg head coach Brandon West was named the United East Women's Soccer Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. This fall, he led Penn State Harrisburg to its fourth conference championship and third NCAA Tournament appearance while playing one of the nation's most competitive non-conference schedules. Under his guidance, the Lions rank seventh in the country in total assists (59) and 11th nationally in both total points (207) and total goals (74). 


INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADES
A number of Penn State Harrisburg players were recognized for their individual efforts this fall, with Ciera Frick, Mackenzie Mowery, Diana Pon, Olivia Sgrignioli and Kara Slavin recently being named to the United East All-Conference First Team. Katie Brown, Ava Myers and Alexis Valenta earned all-conference second-team honors, while Abigail Frew was named to the all-conference third team. Pon was twice named the United East Offensive Player of the Week this season, while Mowery, Slavin and Kylie Yap each secured conference defensive player of the week recognition earlier this fall. 


PON'S SWAN SONG
Penn State Harrisburg midfielder Diana Pon is currently in the midst of one of the most well-rounded seasons of any player in the country, evidenced by the distinction of being one of just three players in the nation to rank top-15 in total points (48), goals (18) and assists (12). The senior also ranks ninth in the country with a .696 shot accuracy mark and 11th nationally with six game-winning goals, including the deciding score in a 1-0 victory at No. 4 Messiah in mid-October. The Miami, Fla. native set the single-season program record for total points and assists, while matching the single-season mark for game winners and ranking third in goals scored. Among active NCAA Division III players, Pon ranks fourth in career assists (33), eighth in total points (131) and 11th in goals (49). She is one of just five active players to record 40 goals and 30 assists. For her efforts this fall, the team captain earned United East All-Conference First Team recognition and was twice named the United East Offensive Player of the Week. 


HOW CAN WE ASSIST YOU?
Penn State Harrisburg has been one of the country's best teams when it comes to sharing the ball this season. The Lions set a new single-season program record for assists this fall with 59 - a number strong enough to rank seventh in the nation. As a group, Penn State Harrisburg's 2.46 assists per game mark is also good enough to rank 19th in the nation. 


KEEPING THE SHEETS CLEAN
Statistically speaking, the Lions have been one of the top offenses in the nation this season, ranking top-25 in both scoring offense and total goals. But the defense has also shined, with Penn State Harrisburg recording a single-season program-record 15 shutouts on the year - a number good enough to rank tied for eighth in the country this fall. Those clean sheets include wins over No. 4 Messiah and No. 11 Rowan, as well as scoreless draws with regionally-ranked programs the likes of Dickinson and Cortland. 


PACKED SCHEDULE
Penn State Harrisburg head coach Brandon West made it a point to schedule top-tier competition for the team's non-conference slate this season. The Lions have faced a combined 11 nationally- and regionally-ranked opponents this fall, amassing a 4-5-2 record against these foes, including victories over No. 4 Messiah, No. 11 Rowan and No. 14 Christopher Newport, as well as regionally-ranked Saint Vincent. Penn State Harrisburg also earned draws against regionally-ranked opponents Dickinson and Cortland. 


DANCE PARTNERS
So far during the 2025 campaign, Penn State Harrisburg has faced six opponents that qualified for this year's NCAA Tournament in Christopher Newport, Cortland, Messiah, Mary Washington, Rowan and Stevens. The Lions are 3-2-1 in those contests, with victories over No. 4 Messiah, No. 11 Rowan and No. 14 Christopher Newport, a scoreless draw against Cortland, a 1-0 loss at Mary Washington and a 2-0 setback against Stevens.


WHAT'S NEXT?
If the Lions are able to avenge their early-season loss to Mary Washington on Saturday afternoon, they'll face the winner of Saturday morning's No. 3 Tufts vs. No. 12 Middlebury matchup on Sunday, Nov. 23 with a trip to the Final Four on the line. 


STAY CONNECTED
Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.