COLCHESTER, Vt. - The Saint Michael's College women's soccer team is set to visit Bentley University for a Northeast 10 Conference Championship semifinal on Thursday at 1 p.m. Tickets are $11 for adults, $5.50 for seniors and children under 18, and free for students from NE10 institutions with a valid ID. Bentley Field is a cashless venue, and tickets can be purchased online here.
 
The third-seeded Purple Knights (9-2-5, 4-2-3 NE10) and second-seeded Falcons (13-1-3, 6-1-2 NE10) square off in the postseason for the third consecutive year. Bentley earned a 1-0 win on its home field during a 2024 NE10 quarterfinal before Saint Michael's returned the favor last fall, as junior Scarlett Brookes (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Knolls) scored in the second half of a 1-0 quarterfinal victory on Duffy Field. During this year's regular season, Bentley, then ranked 16th in the nation, took a 2-1 decision at home on Oct. 17, netting the 50th-minute winner after Brookes tied the game in the 14th minute.
 
In last week's United Soccer Coaches national poll, Bentley stood 15th, while Saint Michael's received votes. On Monday, the Falcons and Purple Knights found themselves sitting second and fourth, respectively, in the NCAA's NPI East Region rankings, which determine the six-team NCAA regional field.
 
Saint Michael's claimed a 2-0 win on Sunday in a first-round contest against No. 6 American International College, as junior Sam McDonough (Walkersville, Md./Walkersville) scored in the first half before classmate Lola Follansbee (Grafton, Mass./Grafton) found the net after intermission. Junior Jules Peterson (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) assisted both, and sophomore Chloe Laizer (West Springfield, Mass./West Springfield) made two saves to tie program records for career (18) and season (9) shutouts. Meanwhile, Bentley tied No. 7 Southern Connecticut State University, 1-1, before advancing by virtue of a 5-3 edge in a penalty kick shootout.
 
The Purple and Gold advanced to a semifinal for the second straight year, losing to eventual national runner-up Franklin Pierce University, 2-1, in 2025 when the hosts tallied the winner on an 87th-minute penalty kick. In a four-team field, Saint Michael's also played in a semifinal in 1989 but lost to visiting Springfield College, 1-0.
 
In Thursday's other semifinal, No. 1 Franklin Pierce hosts No. 4 Saint Anselm College at 7 p.m. The championship game is slated for Sunday at the home of the highest-remaining seed.
 
Brookes keys the offense, placing third in the NE10 in goals (9) and fourth in points (22) one year after pacing the league in both and becoming the first All-America soccer player - men's or women's - in College history. Peterson is tied for eighth in the NE10 in goals (6) and 10th in points (15), while junior Sarah Gormley (East Moriches, N.Y./Westhampton Beach) owns five goals and four assists, with three tallies going as game-winners, tied for fourth in the league. Follansbee contributes five goals and three helpers, while senior Bridget Hanley (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield) is sixth in the NE10 with six assists from her spot in the central midfield.
 
Laizer has tied Trish Hannan's '90 school mark with 18 career shutouts, and she matched her own record with nine this season. Laizer leads the NE10 in goals-against average (0.65), is tied for first in clean sheets, and stands fourth in save percentage (.821). A strong defensive corps is anchored by senior captain Bridget McLoughlin (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) and juniors Delaney Kleinman (Center Moriches, N.Y./Center Moriches), Julia Palmese (Berlin, Conn./Berlin) and Josie Rayhill (Kirkland, Wash./Lake Washington).
 
Now in her 14th season at Saint Michael's, Wendy Elles is tied for the longest head coaching tenure in program history. She has turned the program into a contender while constructing a deep roster through geographically-diverse recruiting. After resetting the program during her first six years, when the Purple Knights won a total of 14 games, they are 52-34-20 since 2019, including 36-9-10 the last three years. Their .745 winning percentage in that time is second in the league only to perennial national power Franklin Pierce (.799).