With a 4-0 win over College of Charleston on Sunday, the University of North Carolina Wilmington women’s soccer team equaled the most wins in school history and earned the right to host a home game in the conference tournament this weekend.
The Seahawks finished the season 13-5-1, posting shutouts in its final three games and earning a third-place finish in the Colonial Athletic Association standings. As the third seed in the CAA, the Seahawks will host Delaware at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1 at UNCW Soccer Stadium.
The Seahawks and Blue Hens battled to a 2-2 tie in their Sept. 27 meeting in Wilmington. UNCW finished the season with 19 points, tying William & Mary, which played one fewer conference game due to weather from Hurricane Joaquin forcing a postponement of its matchup with Elon. In soccer standing, three points are earned with a win and one with a tie. Non-conference games aren’t used for the standings. Despite tying with William & Mary, the Tribe earned the edge over the Seahawks due to its 1-0 win over UNCW on Oct. 1.
If the UNCW women’s soccer team defeats Delaware on Sunday, it will earn a rematch with William & Mary for the semifinals of the conference tournament, which is hosted by the regular-season champion Hofstra in Hamstead, New York. UNCW defeated Hofstra on Oct. 2 in a road game.
Despite its record, UNCW women’s soccer coach said the team’s ultimate place in Seahawk soccer history will be judged on whether it can win a championship, said head coach Paul Cairney.
“The wins don’t mean anything if we don’t win a championship,” Cairney said.
The 2009 Seahawk team also finished third in the standings, only to win the CAA championship on the road, giving UNCW its only conference title in its 22-year history. UNCW senior forward Maddie McCormick said hosting a tournament game would help motivate the team, but added the team has also had success on the road.
“It would be awesome having a home crowd for our first game,” McCormick said. “But we’re there to play no matter where we are.”
The UNCW men’s soccer team is also wrapping up its season, where it will host its final home game on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. against non-conference opponent Florida Gulf Coast. The Seahawks will close their season on Nov. 3 with a road trip to cross-state foe Charlotte.
The men’s soccer team has also secured as spot in the CAA tournament, though its position in the tournament will depend on late-season action. The Seahawks currently sit in third place, but don’t have enough conference games left to catch conference leader Hofstra or second place Elon.
The men’s soccer team dropped a closely fought game against No. 14 ranked Old Dominion on Oct. 21 at UNCW Soccer Stadium, falling 1-0. The Seahawks are now 8-4-3 overall and 3-2-2 in the conference. Three of their losses have come against nationally ranked opponents.
The men’s soccer conference tournament is scheduled to start Nov. 7. The Seahawks can host a game if the team finishes in third or fourth place in the conference standings.
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