The 2023 DII women's soccer semifinals are set; Here's what you need to know

Just four teams remain standing in the DII women's soccer championships. Of those four teams heading to Matthews, North Carolina on Dec. 7 for the national semifinals, nary a one has a national championship to its name. There will be a brand-new, first-time DII women's soccer champion crowned in 2023. 

So, what do we know about the 2023 final four teams remaining in the tournament? Let's find out. 

TOURNAMENT CENTRAL:

• Follow the bracket
• Updates and scores throughout the tournament
• Programs with the most championships 
• SEMIFINALS MATCHUPS:
  • No. 1 Florida Tech vs. No. 4 Point Loma, Dec. 7, 11 a.m. ET
  • No. 2 Adelphi vs. No. 3 Washburn, Dec. 7, 2 p.m. ET

What to know about the DII women's soccer championship semifinalists

Washburn celebrates after winning the Central Region in DII women's soccer.

No. 1 Florida Tech

Both the Panther men's and women's soccer teams are battling for a national championship on the same pitch this coming weekend, which is pretty cool in itself. The men are the No. 2 seed, while the women, who are making their second national semifinal appearance in program history, are the top dogs. 

The Panthers were the third seed in the South Region and played arguably the wildest quarterfinal match in the tournament. To get there, the Panthers blanked Rollins 3-0 in the first round before downing Lee 2-1 and Nova Southeastern 3-1. Then the fireworks began in a thrilling 5-4 upset over the Southeast Region's No. 1-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne Bears. Florida Tech jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but the Bears came firing back before Kate Frazer sealed the deal with the game-winning goal at the 86:59 mark in this high-scoring affair. The Panthers are rolling into the semifinals on fire: Marem Ndiongue has back-to-back two-goal matches, while Lauryn Wood and Josefine Nilsen have scored a goal in three of the four tournament games. 

No. 2 Adelphi

These Panthers are one of the more seasoned programs of the group, having two national runners-up campaigns under their belt. The first came in 1992 and the second came in 2004, the last time Adelphi made it as far as the semifinals.

Adelphi came out on fire, blanking its first two opponents in the bracket, shutting out Bridgeport 2-0 and Molloy 3-0. The Panthers then upset East Region powerhouse Saint Rose in penalty kicks, before keeping Gannon scoreless in the quarterfinals. It goes without saying, keeper Krista Aliscio is playing some impressive matches, in goal for every minute of every tournament match and allowing just one regulation-time goal. And how about the story of junior midfielder Alexis Hellman? She made just one start during the regular season and scored a mere two goals, but this postseason she has started all four games and is responsible for four of the Panthers' seven regulation goals. Three of her four goals have been game-winners.

No. 3 Washburn

Welcome to the national semifinals, Ichabods. Washburn is venturing into uncharted territory with its first appearance among DII women's soccer semifinalists. Its most recent win, No. 20, was a program record. It has been quite the ride thus far for the Ichabods.

Every match on the road to North Carolina was tightly contested, with each match decided by one goal. Washburn went to overtime with Ouachita Baptist and then Central Missouri in the first two rounds, with Khloe Schuckman scoring the game-winner in both matches. Schuckman then had a pair of goals in Washburn's 2-1 victory over Emporia State to win the Central Region before Washburn snuck past Grand Valley State with a goal in the 80th minute of play. If you haven't picked up on it, defenses better hone in on Schuckman, or they too may be heading home early from North Carolina. 

No. 4 Point Loma

The Sea Lions are amid a season for the ages. They won the West Region after earning their first-ever No. 1 seed and are two wins shy of setting the program wins in a single season. Lucky for them, there are potentially exactly two matches left in the season.

Point Loma has yet to allow a goal in the tournament, so naturally, that sets up an intriguing semifinal matchup against Florida Tech — the highest-scoring team remaining in the tournament. The Sea Lions shut out Concordia (CA) and Seattle Pacific 2-0 before blanking UC Colorado Springs 1-0 to advance to North Carolina. Point Loma has allowed the fewest goals per game of any of the remaining teams and Julia Pinnell has been sensational in net not simply in the postseason, but all year with a 0.45 goals-against average and 85.7 save percentage. This defense has a large test ahead of it, but has shown it can shut down just about any offense in DII.