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Flint City AFC well represented at NCAA Tournament

By Flint City AFC, 11/09/23, 9:45AM EST

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18 players from Flint’s 2023 women’s squad make tourney

Eighteen players from Flint City AFC’s 2023 roster have qualified with nine schools to play in the NCAA Tournament, with opening-round matches set for this weekend.

All matches will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required).

No. 5 Michigan State University vs. Ohio: 6 p.m. Friday

DeMartin Soccer Stadium in East Lansing (tickets)

The Spartans feature four Flint City players, including the Gaynor sisters. Senior Justina Gaynor was named Big Ten Midfielder of the Year after starting every match for Michigan State. She led the team with 19 points from four goals and 11 assists. Justina also earned conference first-team honors for the second consecutive year alongside graduate defender Celia Gaynor, who started 16 games as a center back after spending most of her collegiate career in the midfield. Celia also contributed a pair of goals during the campaign.

Joining them are senior midfielder Gabby Mueller, who tallied five goals and two assists in 19 starts, and Sophia Piotrowski, who played in 16 games as a freshman.

University of Michigan @ No. 7 Princeton: 7 p.m. Friday

The Wolverines are headed to New Jersey with three AFC players in tow. Senior forward Sammi Woods leads the team with eight goals. Junior midfielder Avery Kalitta leads the entire Big Ten in duels won, while also ranking second in ball recoveries and passes completed. Both were selected for the conference third team. Senior midfielder Kacey Lawrence, meanwhile, has appeared in 15 matches, scoring one goal and assisting three.

No. 4 Xavier University vs. Tennessee: 4 p.m. Saturday

Flint City is represented on both sides in this Cincinnati clash. Xavier features sophomore forward Regan Dancer, freshman midfielder Reese Slater, and sophomore defender Ella Offer. Dancer has appeared in 21 matches, notching two goals and four assists. Slater has two assists in 20 appearances. Offer has entered nine games. On the visiting side is sophomore midfielder Mac Midgley, who has a goal and three assists in 17 starts.

No. 4 University of Wisconsin vs. Milwaukee: 8 p.m. Friday

The Badgers feature the Flint defensive pairing of junior Aidan McConnell and freshman Hailey Baumann. The latter earned Big Ten third-team and all-freshman honors, starting 20 matches. McConnell also started a dozen matches. Their defensive contributions helped Wisconsin hold opponents to just 13 goals over 21 games.

Indiana @ No. 6 Saint Louis: 8 p.m. Friday

Sophomore midfielder Olivia Rush started 16 matches for the Hoosiers. Redshirt sophomore forward Ava Akeel played in 18 games, scoring once. Indiana is in the midst of its winningest season since 2013, suffering just three defeats on the year.

No. 8 Columbia University vs. Rutgers: 12 p.m. Sunday

Sophomore defender Justina Bitzer started 16 matches for Columbia, whose elite defensive unit has held 10 clean sheets and surrendered just 10 goals.

No. 3 University of North Carolina vs. Towson: 6 p.m. Friday

As a freshman for one of the country's top women's soccer programs, Olivia Thomas has earned seven starts and 10 total appearances, scoring once.

Ohio State University @ No. 7 Pittsburgh: 7 p.m. Saturday

In a successful debut season, goalkeeper Peighton Northrup appeared in four games for the Buckeyes. She made five saves and allowed just one goal against.

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