The second-round of the NCAA women’s soccer tournament kicks off today, which includes the first group of seeded teams. You can find more information on today’s slate of games here, as well as how to watch them all here.
Here are the three games to keep an eye on Saturday.
No. 9 Duke vs. Arizona State: 12 p.m. ET
Arizona State ended Siena College’s undefeated season on Friday in a decisive 4-0 victory. It was more goals than the Saints had allowed all season, with three of those goals coming in the final 29 minutes of the game, including this exclamation point by Cori Sullivan.
SUN DEVILS WINSUN DEVILS WINSUN DEVILS WINSUN DEVILS WINSUN DEVILS WIN📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/MQkoCBka2z— Sun Devil Soccer (@SunDevilSoccer) April 28, 2021
SUN DEVILS WINSUN DEVILS WINSUN DEVILS WINSUN DEVILS WINSUN DEVILS WIN📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/MQkoCBka2z
The Sun Devils advance to face a test in Duke, who are coming in at their highest seed in three years, finishing the fall season 7-4-2 and losing to eventual champion Florida State (and current No. 1 overall seed) in the ACC Tournament. This is their 17th tournament appearance in the past 18 seasons and their fifth top-16 national seed in the last six years.
No. 16 Vanderbilt vs. Penn State: 3 p.m. ET
Penn State is looking strong heading into their second-round game against Vanderbilt. They were dominant in their first game against Alabama State, with four goals in the first half propelling them to a 5-0 win.
While the Commodores played a fall season and had to supplement it with exhibition matches in the spring, Penn State has been facing tried and true opponents all spring. Additionally, Penn State’s record, 11-2-1, is better than Vanderbilt’s, 9-5-1. However, Vanderbilt had some statement wins during their season, including a 3-1 win against No. 6 Arkansas in the SEC Tournament that propelled them to the title.
No. 6 Arkansas vs. Utah Valley: 4 p.m. ET
Utah Valley took care of business in the 60th minute on Friday to propel them to a 1-0 win over Memphis. Sadie Brockbank scored the lone goal of the game to help her team to their first-ever NCAA tournament win in program history. (It was also the first NCAA tournament win for any sport in the school’s history.)
Sadie Brockbank's game-winning, history-making goal that secured UVU its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory in a 1-0 win over Memphis.#UVUsoccer #NCAAsoccer #UVU pic.twitter.com/nkOjrRmjLp— UVU Women's Soccer (@UVUwsoc) April 29, 2021
Sadie Brockbank's game-winning, history-making goal that secured UVU its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory in a 1-0 win over Memphis.#UVUsoccer #NCAAsoccer #UVU pic.twitter.com/nkOjrRmjLp
This is Utah Valley’s third all-time NCAA appearance as the Wolverines finished the season with a 10-2-2 record and as 2021 WAC Champions. They’re also riding a nine-match unbeaten streak heading into their matchup against Arkansas.
The Razorbacks promise to be a formidable opponent, however. Arkansas enters the match-up with a record of 11-3-0, claiming the regular season SEC title for the second-straight year. They currently rank in the top 15 in total goals, assists and points nationally.
The best of the rest (all times ET):