Brandywine Soccer Teams Headed To Virginia Beach For National Championships
MEDIA, Pa. – Penn State Brandywine's conference champion soccer teams have departed for Virginia Beach in advance of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Championships, which kickoff Thursday morning.
Both of the Lions' soccer squads claimed Penn State University Athletic Conference championships one week ago by identical 1-0 scores. The men knocked off Penn State Hazletion behind a goal from the nation's leading scorer, Bill Walleekendeh (Chester, Pa./Chester), while Brooke Muhlbaier (Millville, N.J./Millville) provided the lone goal during the women's 1-0 triumph over Penn State Schuylkill.
The Brandywine men will be making their third appearance at the national championship, having also competed in 2013 and 2014. The Lions are the sixth-seeded team in the tournament and will compete in Pool B against No. 3 Bryant & Stratton and No. 10 Maine Machias. For the third time in its three appearances, Brandywine is matched up with Maine-Machias. The Clippers picked up a 6-1 win in 2013 and 1-0, double-overtime victory in 2014 during the teams' prior meetings.
Brandywine (15-2) opens the tournament against Bryant & Stratton on Thursday at 2:00 pm and faces Maine-Machias Saturday afternoon at 2:00 pm. The top team in Pool B advances to Sunday's semifinal round.
The Lions, who ran through conference play undefeated and posted a pair of shutouts in the conference tournament, will be looking for their first-ever victory at a national championship. Led by Walleekendeh, a two-time PSUAC Player of the Year, Brandywine features seven all-conference performers.
The Brandywine women, in their second season as a varsity program, claimed the PSUAC championship and automatic bid to the USCAA Tournament for the first time. The Lions rolled through conference opponents, outscoring league foes 72-5 in 12 matches, en route to a 14-1 overall record.
Brandywine, the No. 9 seed, is matched up with No. 4 Bryant & Stratton and No. 5 Cleary in Pool D. The Lions battle Bryant & Stratton Friday at 10:00 am and conclude pool play Saturday morning against Cleary. Brandywine has never faced any of the 12 teams in the women's field.
Eight Lions were selected as all-conference standouts following Brandywine's championship season. Brianna Banks (Philadelphia, Pa./Parkway Center) was named PSUAC Player and Newcomer of the Year and joined Muhlbaier, Rachel Weir (Neptune City, N.J./Red Bank Regional) and Emily Bush (Bayville, N.J./Central Regional) as first team performers.
Fans can follow Brandywine's championship runs live online. Links for live stats and video can be found at www.psubrandywineathletics.com.
