D1 NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament kicks off today with several local players

The women’s Division 1 NCAA Tournament kicks off this afternoon with a slate of eight games.

A total of 48 teams are competing in matches all played in the state of North Carolina. Several teams in the field have players with ties to greater Philadelphia.

Some of the key players to watch include Georgetown forward Gia Vicari, a sophomore from Reading, Pa. who has led the Hoyas attack with 10 goals and four assists this season. The Hoyas will play the winner of South Carolina and Montana on Saturday.

Rutgers senior Amirah Ali, who was drafted by the Portland Thorns in the NWSL Draft, leads Rutgers into a first round match today against Southeastern Louisiana. Ali leads the team with six goals and has an assist this season. Fellow Eastern Regional grad Sara Brocious has also had a solid season, starting all 14 games and recording a goal and three assists.

Senior Maddie Elwell is one of the leaders on a Vanderbilt team that won the SEC and earned a first round bye. They’ll face the winner of Penn State and Alabama State on Saturday.

A total of 30 players with local ties are on rosters of teams in the tournament field.

Campbell

Stephanie Martelli, GK, Fy, Swedesboro, N.J. / Kingsway Regional / SJEB FC
Martelli started eight games this season and made 10 appearances, recording three solo clean sheets and one combined shutout. Her goals against average is 0.67.

Duke

Mackenzie Pluck, MF, Jr., North Wales, Pa. / Germantown Academy / Players Development Academy
Has a goal and five assists in 18 appearances in 2020-21.

Julia Burnell, MF, So., Glen Mills, Pa. / Garnett Valley / Penn Fusion Academy
Made her collegiate debut in a 30-minute appearance against Coastal Carolina in March.

Elon

McKenna Dalfonso, GK, Fy, Mantua Township, N.J. / Clearview Regional / SJEB FC
Has made nine starts this season, recorded six clean sheets and has a goals against average of .99.

Caylin Meikrantz, MF/F, Sr., Allentown, Pa. / Salisbury Township / Vincent United FC
Has not appeared this season.

Georgetown

Gia Vicari, F, So. Reading, Pa. / The Baldwin School / Penn Fusion Academy
Leads the Hoyas with 10 goals and has four assists in 12 games.

Boo Jackson, F, Jr., Marlton, N.J. / Cherokee / Players Development Academy
Has an assist in 10 appearances and 1 start this season.

Alexis Smith, D, Jr., Blue Bell, Pa. / Wissahickon / FC Delco
Has made three substitute appearances this season.

Liberty

Rebekah Earnest, MF, So., Reading, Pa. / Fleetwood Area / FC Revolution
Has an assist in 16 appearances this season.
Madison Martin, D, Jr., Lebanon, Pa. / Mount Cavalry Christian / PA Classics
Has 17 appearances this season.
Annie Slovak, F, Fy., Lancaster, Pa. / Ephrata / Rage Soccer Club
Has 12 appearances this season.
Brenna Warren, F, R-Jr., Downingtown, Pa. / Downingtown East / Penn Fusion Academy
Has not appeared this season.

Navy

Mattie Gallagher, GK, Fy., Gilbertsville, Pa. / Boyertown Area / Lehigh Valley United
Has eight starts and nine appearances this season, three clean sheets and a .79 goals against average.

North Carolina

Rachael Dorwart, F/MF, Jr. Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Cumberland Valley / Penn Fusion Academy
Has four appearances this season.

Penn State

Elle Kershner, F, Fy, Phoenixville, Pa. / Penn Fusion Academy
Has two goals and an assist in 12 games this season.

Rutgers

Amirah Ali, F/MF, Sr., Voorhees, N.J. / Eastern Regional / Players Development Academy
Leads Rutgers with six goals and an assist this season in 14 games.

Emma Misal, D, Fy., Mechanicsburg, N.J. / Red Land / Penn Fusion Academy
Has started all 14 matches this season.

Sara Brocious, MF, Fy, Voorhees, N.J. / Eastern Regional / Players Development Academy
Has a goal and three assists in 14 starts this season.

Nicole Binkley, MF, Jr., Burlington, N.J. / Burlington Township / Players Development Academy
Has made four appearances this season.

Siena

Leslie Adams, GK, Jr., Collegeville, Pa. / Perkiomen Valley / Rage Soccer Club
Has six starts this season, three clean sheets and a goals against average of .47.

Brianna Montinard, D, Jr., Hainesport, N.J. / Bishop Eustace / Players Development Academy
Has an assist in eight starts this season.

Grace George, MF/D, Fy, Wernersville, Pa. / Conrad Weiser / Rage Soccer Club
Has an assist in seven starts and eight appearances this season.

Annie Bagnall, F, Fy., West Wyoming, Pa. / Holy Redeemer / Lehigh Valley United
Has not appeared this season.

Southeastern Louisiana

Lexie Gundersen, MF, Sr., Reading, Pa. / Exeter / FC Revolution
Has not appeared this season.

Vanderbilt

Maddie Elwell, MF/F, Sr., Ambler, Pa. / Wissahickon / Yardley Makefield Soccer
Has two goals and four assists in 15 appearances and 14 starts this season.

Hannah Morgan, D, Jr., Berwyn, Pa. / Conestoga / FC Pennsylvania
Has not appeared this season.

Rebecca Rossett, F, Sr., Woodbury, N.J. Woodbury / Yardley Makefield Soccer
Has not appeared this season.

Virginia

Sydney Zandi, MF/D, Sr., West Chester, Pa. / Henderson / Penn Fusion Academy
Has five starts this season.
Cam Lexow, F, So., Abington, Pa. / Abington / FC Pennsylvania
Has an assist in 11 substitute appearances this season.

West Virginia

Chloe Adler, F, Fy, Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin / Penn Fusion Academy
Has five appearances this season.