COLLEGE MEN’S SOCCER
Top-seeded Virginia scored twice in eight minutes Thursday night to oust 12th-seeded California 2-1 in an Atlantic Coast Conference semifinal in Cary, North Carolina.
The Cavaliers (12-1-4), who made the final for the first time since 2019, will play at 1 p.m. Sunday on ESPNU for the title against seventh-seeded Southern Methodist, which rode past sixth-seeded Syracuse 5-1 in the second semifinal.
UVA, ranked fourth nationally, went ahead in the 74th minute when a Cal defender accidentally kicked a Cavaliers crossing pass past the keeper for an own goal.
About eight minutes later, Virginia’s Marco Dos Santos flicked a ball back into the Cal penalty area. After taking a deflection off a Bears defender, AJ Smith blasted it into the net for a 2-0 edge.
Cal’s Beau Morrison scored on a header in the 87th minute, but the Cavaliers improved their winning streak to five matches and their unbeaten streak to 14.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
ODAC semifinal loss drops Va. Wesleyan to 31-2
Virginia Wesleyan suffered just its second defeat of the season Thursday night, dropping a thrilling Old Dominion Athletic Conference semifinal 3-2 (26-24, 16-25, 25-22, 21-25, 17-15) to Washington and Lee at TowneBank Arena.
The top-seeded Marlins (31-2), ranked 14th in Division III, seem like a certain pick for an at-large bid to the 64-team NCAA bracket, which will be revealed Monday on NCAA.com.
Fourth-seeded W&L (22-9) will play for the ODAC championship Saturday at third-seeded Bridgewater (21-7), which won 3-2 (25-16, 25-18, 21-25, 20-25, 15-9) at second-seeded Lynchburg (26-4) behind First Colonial High alumna Faith DePew’s 13 kills and five blocks.
VWU saved three match points before succumbing to Cara Hamil’s team-leading 21st kill. VWU’s Hannah Smith had 34 kills and 38 digs, Niya Nash had 65 assists and 13 digs, and Madi Schmidt had 13 kills and 24 digs.
In a quarterfinal Tuesday, VWU rolled past Roanoke 3-0 (25-12, 25-12, 25-15) behind Hannah Smith’s 14 kills and seven digs and Niya Nash’s 35 assists and 12 digs.
CNU’s Dozier earns historic haul
Christopher Newport senior Alyssa Dozier was named the Coast-To-Coast Player of the Year for an unprecedented third consecutive season, as well as being named Defensive Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Dozier was joined on the first team by fellow Captains Maddie Hanes (a Grassfield High graduate), Samantha Dorn and Fielding Croft, the Rookie of the Year.
The Captains (22-7), 22nd in the latest NCAA Division III Power Index, are seeded second in the C2C tourney and will go against No. 3 seed UC Santa Cruz (10-15), the tournament host, at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
ODU reveals 2026 class
Old Dominion announced its six-player recruiting class for next season: outside hitter Abby MacMillan of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania; setter Erica Duffy of St. Augustine, Florida; outside hitter Leilani Lawrence of Tampa, Florida; middle blocker Emma DiRocco of Pittsburgh; and a pair of Canadians from Calgary, Alberta: libero Ashlyn Gent and middle blocker Avery Thiessen.
COLLEGE MEN’S SOCCER
VWU awaits ECAC game after gaining honors
Virginia Wesleyan seniors Zach Bittler and Aaron Deans made the All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference first team, sophomore Mason Wakefield and junior Josh Nevins made the second team, and sophomore Gio Zizza earned a third-team spot.
Also on the third team: Randolph-Macon junior Damien Jackson, a Menchville High graduate.
VWU (12-5-1) was named the top overall seed for the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III tourney, which will include 10 teams that didn’t qualify for the NCAA bracket. The Marlins got a first-round bye and will play host to Franciscan of Cleveland in a quarterfinal at noon Sunday.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S SOCCER
NCAA-bound Marlins take ODAC honors
ODAC runner-up Virginia Wesleyan earned several conference honors before heading to the NCAA Division III tourney this weekend.
Senior Grayson Yeager and freshman Tori Mills made the first team, senior Shyenne Diaz — a Landstown High alum — and sophomore Alex Ortega were on the second team, and sophomore Kaylyn Seitz and junior Stephanie Koblish were on the third team.
The second team also included Randolph-Macon senior Abigail Pesut, a Kellam High graduate.
COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY
Lynchburg advances to NCAA game at No. 1 CNU
Lynchburg (17-4), ranked 17th nationally, scored three goals in the second quarter and held on to win 3-2 at No. 13 Rowan in the NCAA Division III championship tournament’s first round. Tabb High graduate Allie Freeman scored the first goal from an assist by Khanyisile Mzizi, who added the last two goals to build a 3-0 lead.
The Hornets earned a berth against top-ranked Christopher Newport (17-0) at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Captains’ Jennings Family Stadium. That game’s winner will play a quarterfinal at 1 p.m. Sunday against the victor between No. 5 Salisbury (18-2) and No. 11 Dickinson (19-3).
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
NSU adds former HU assistant to staff
Norfolk State announced that Ashley Davis Carter will serve as an assistant to first-year head coach Tatjana Matthews. Carter was an assistant for Hampton University for the past two seasons, as well as owning a recruiting consulting company that supports programs nationwide.
Matthews replaced Angie Nicholson, who became Maryland Baltimore County’s head coach in August.
2 Grassfield players sign with JMU
James Madison’s six-player fall 2026 recruiting class announced this week includes two Grassfield standouts: pitcher/utility player Braelyn Bailey and catcher/outfielder E.G. Hatcher.
COLLEGE MEN’S LACROSSE
Captains to face nine 2025 tourney qualifiers
CNU announced a spring schedule including nine games against teams that, like the Captains, qualified for last season’s NCAA bracket.
CNU, a quarterfinalist last season, will start 2026 at home Jan. 31 against Elizabethtown.
BASEBALL RECRUITING
Walsingham’s Ferrie commits to Methodist
Walsingham Academy’s Anthony Ferrie revealed his commitment to Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/11/13/uva-reaches-first-mens-soccer-acc-final-since-2019/
