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Portland Thorns’ draftees Amirah Ali and Sam Coffey have led their teams to the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament and both Rutgers and Penn State advanced to the third round. Ali’s Scarlet Knights were able to survive a penalty shootout and advance to the Elite Eight but Coffey’s Nittany Lions were eliminated by South Carolina.
Amirah Ali’s Scarlet Knights
Rutgers responded well after their 1-0 loss to Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament Final. The Scarlet Knights hosted Bucknell to start the NCAA Tournament. The match was originally scheduled for November 13 but was rescheduled for November 14 due to the weather. Frankie Tagliaferri and Riley Tiernan scored and Rutgers advanced to the second round.
The Scarlet Knights hosted Saint Louis in the second round. Amirah Ali played her 100th career collegiate match and celebrated by notching the opener and assisting the second of four Rutgers goals.
...and counting!
— RUWS | BIG TEN CHAMPIONS (@RUWSoccer) November 20, 2021
Congratulations to Amirah Ali on eclipsing 100 career games played! The milestone comes in the same season of her 100th career point! pic.twitter.com/qHBWsviMSX
Tiernan➡️Tagliaferri➡️Ali‼️#RUWS LEADS! Riley Tiernan starts things off with a pass to Frankie Tagliaferri! Tagliaferri keeps things going to set up an Amirah Ali goal! It's a 1-0 lead for RU just four minutes in! pic.twitter.com/kREJmj4AT4
— RUWS | BIG TEN CHAMPIONS (@RUWSoccer) November 19, 2021
Rutgers met Yazmeen Ryan’s alma mater TCU in the third round. Again Amirah Ali was the protagonist and put the Scarlet Knights in front. Rutgers were unable to double their lead and TCU found an equalizer in the 85th minute. Neither team was able to find a winner in regulation nor extra time and the match would be settled from the penalty spot.
AMIRAH. ALI‼️#RUWS LEADS! Sam Kroeger with the pass and Amirah Ali with the finish for a 1-0 advantage! pic.twitter.com/rCXdfvKCsk
— RUWS | BIG TEN CHAMPIONS (@RUWSoccer) November 21, 2021
Rutgers keeper Meagan McClelland saved three consecutive penalties and the Scarlet Knights defeated TCU 5-4 in the shootout. The Scarlet Knights will play two-seeded Arkansas in the Elite Eight. The match is scheduled for Friday, November 26 at 4 p.m. PST.
See the full penalty kick finish between No. 1 seed @RUWSoccer and TCU in the third round of the 2021 NCAA women's soccer tournament.#NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/EkgPiyB32l
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) November 22, 2021
Sam Coffey’s Nittany Lions
Coffey’s Nittany Lions opened the tournament against Monmouth on November 12. Penn State scored in the 26th, 39th and 75th minute to go 3-0 up. Monmouth pulled one back in the 78th minute and the match ended 3-1.
The Nittany Lions faced No. 11 University of Southern California in the second round on November 19. Ally Schlegel put Penn State in front in the 21st minute. USC equalized in the 49th. Coffey played a flighted ball into stride for Schlegel in the 57th minute, who made no mistake and made it 2-1. The Trojans found a second game-tying goal late in the match.
The game went to extra time and the teams were unable to break the deadlock. Coffey stepped up and converted the first penalty in the shootout and the Nittany Lions eventually upset USC 3-2 on penalties.
How sweet it is! We're going to the NCAA Sweet-16 for the fifth season in a row with an upset of No. 11 and third-seed USC!https://t.co/vVOCpwhrjA#WeAre
— Penn State Women’s Soccer (@PennStateWSOC) November 20, 2021
The Nittany Lions’ run and Coffey’s amazing collegiate career were brought to an end on November 21. Penn State faced South Carolina in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The Nittany Lions were unable to find the back of the net and the Gamecocks scored twice.