Apparently, Jim Hutchinson and Christan Shirk are winding down or possibly transitioning D3soccer.com. Many thanks to both of them for the years of terrific coverage of soccer in Division 3! D3soccer.com 2022 All-Americans will be announced in the coming weeks. https://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=9378.0 December 2, 2022 At the outset of the season, Jim Hutchinson and I (aka D3soccer.com) did not plan to do the Top 25 or All-America teams this year. We ended up doing the Top 25, but as of yesterday we still had no plan to do the All-America teams. Today, however, I can share that we will do our best to name All-America teams one last time. After keeping the website running one more season than we intended, albeit without any columns or articles, it felt wrong to not close the season with All-America teams. That said, we have no set timetable. Our families and personal well-being will come first during the holiday season. So, I wouldn't expect the teams to be released any earlier than in most recent years (i.e., a month into the new year). Over the years we have appreciated the interest in our rankings and awards and the compliments we receive. We believe and are told that both are positive additions to the D-III soccer community. We have always striven to do the best we can and have enjoyed providing an alternate to the NSCAA/USC rankings and awards. While we won't miss the long hours and sacrifices that were required to pull off many of the things we have done at D3soccer.com, we will miss the satisfaction of contributing to the D-III soccer community in a meaningful way. And we genuinely and earnestly hope that the things we had a hand in over the years continue to exist and evolve in some form, whether through a revitalized D3soccer.com or something completely new. So, be patient with us, but keep your eyes out for All-America teams in the new year. Christan Shirk Special Consultant and Advisor D3soccer.com
The 2023 NWSL Draft will take place at the United Soccer Coaches Convention on January 12, 2023. The NWSL 2023 Draft list of registered players is out. Past league rules have not allowed NWSL teams to sign undrafted players, unless the players had registered for the draft – primarily to prevent players from trying to circumvent the draft process in order to sign with a preferred team. As of January 5, there were 201 players on the draft list. The NWSL website is keeping the list updated on a rolling basis: https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/2023-nwsl-draft-live-registration-list As I usually do, I scanned for non-D1 players. I found 4 from D2, 1 from D3, and 4 from NAIA. D3 Erin Cembrale, M, Huntingdon College (2022: 5-7-3) From Dunedin, FL 2022-23 Senior 2022: Earned an Olympic Gold Medal with the United States Deaf Women's National Soccer Team (USDWNT) at the 2022 Deaflympics, which took place in Caxias Do Sul, Brazil. Cembrale was born deaf with a condition called Connexin 26. As a member of the USDWNT, Cembrale had to play soccer without hearing aids for the first time. "It was definitely a different experience for me," Cembrale said. "I didn't enjoy it at first because I didn't like how the wind was blowing in my ears. But as time went by, I now enjoy playing without my hearing aids. It's a different perspective on playing soccer. It has taught me to finally play with my head up instead of down." https://www.huntingdonhawks.com/general/2021-22/releases/20220526ir5663College Career: 58GP 15G 4A D2 Rachael Sweigard, 5’4”, M, Columbus State University (2022: 19-3-2) From South Lyon, MI 2022-23 Graduate student 2022: 24GP 19G 6A, Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All American Anna Vila, 5’3”, F-M, Palm Beach State University (2022: 2-10-3) From Barcelona, Spain 2022-23 Graduate Student 2022: 12GP 1G 2A Jennifer Bartlett, 5’5”, M, The College of Saint Rose (2022: 19-1-3) From Guilderland, NY 2022-23 Senior 2022: 19GP 1G 3A Elicia Mulvaney, 5’3”, M, Young Harris College (2022: 4-11-0) From Workingham, England 2022-23 Junior 2022: 14GP 0g 0A NAIA Jennifer Aalbue, F-M, Grace College (2022: 18-5-2, NCCAA* Div. 1 Champions) From Wheaton, IL 2022-23 Senior 2022 – 23GP 11G 13A, NCCAA D1 All American 2021 – NCCAA Div. 1 Champions, Tournament Most Outstanding Player 2019 – NCCAA Player of the Year Lauren Turner, 5’9”, D, Indiana Wesleyan University (2022: 14-4-2) From Shelby Township, MI 2022-23 Graduate Student 2018-2022 All Conference each year 2020 NAIA All American Hon. Men. Isabel Aguilar, 5’7”, M, Montreat College (2022: 8-5-3) From Frostproof, FL 2022-23 Junior 2022: 11GP 1G 4A – All Conference 1st Team Adelia Bristot, M-F, Graceland University (2022: 1-14-1) From Criciuma, Brazil, 2022-23 Senior 2022: 16GP 1G 0A *NCCAA is the National Christian College Association It seems to me in past years, I have seen more non-D1 players with flashier stats and awards. Perhaps with the year lost to Covid and with 5 years of playing, the women are less inclined to ‘take a flier’ with pro soccer tryouts this year. -CJ 89
Add: Breukelen Woodard, Johns Hopkins University, Forward Midfielder, Rutland, Vermont, FC Stars, United States Apparenty one of the players taking her fifth year at JHU (from Harvard).
Woodard is one of 23 new players on the list, which I did not expect to be updated today. I think the update was made to make it public that, indeed, Alyssa Thompson (a high-schooler, who has caps with the US senior WNT), has registered. And therefore she can be drafted #1 by Angel City FC, who recently made trades to get the pick with Thompson in mind. 101
A tangent RE: D3 Soccer Players on the US Deaf Women’s National Team Erin Cembrale signing up for the 2023 NWSL draft impelled me to find out more about the USDWNT. The USDWNT won the gold medal at the 24th Deaflympics held in Brazil during May-June 2022. Four D3 players were on that team; winning gold via kicks from the penalty mark 4-2 over Poland, after OT ended 2-2. The team had beaten Poland 2-0 during group play. Defender Gracie Fitzgerald, Centre College class of 2021. Forward Mia White, Rochester Institute of Technology class of 2020 Midfielder Erin Cembrale, Huntingdon College class of 2023 Forward Krystyna Miller, RIT class of 2026; plays club, not varsity soccer there These players may appear for the USDWNT at the 4th World Deaf Football Championships this coming September-October in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. -CJ 358
Since my first post, 56 players have been added to the list of those registered for the NWSL Draft. The rolling list is here: https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/2023-nwsl-draft-live-registration-list In the 56, I found 1-D2, 2-D3, 3-NAIA, and 2 HS players. D3 Sarah Hammond, 5’ 6”, GK, Wesleyan University (2022: 8-6-6) From Canton, MI 2022-23 Graduate Student 2022: 17GP Save % 0.828 2018-2021 Wesleyan Undergraduate Breukelen Woodard, 5’ 7”, M, Johns Hopkins University (2022: 23-0-2 National Champions) From Rutland, VT 2022-23 Graduate student 2022: 24GP 21G 5A, 1st on Team 2018-2020: University of Pennsylvania 2017: University of South Carolina 2019: 2nd Team All-Ivy D2 Romee Contreras, 4’ 10”, M, North Greenville University (2022: 13-4-1) From Rancho Cucamonga, CA 2022-23 5th year student 2022: 18GP 13G 4A 2018-2020: D2 University of Montevallo 51GP 21G 24A NAIA Maja Henriksson, 5’ 5” , D , Keiser University (2022: 21-1-1, lost to Spring Arbor in National Championship Final) From Gothenburg, Sweden 2022-23 4th year Junior 4 Time USC All American 2020-21 USC Player of the Year Sweden Youth National Team [On Keiser's 33-player roster, 8 are from USA and the rest are from Sweden, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, France, Hungary, Mexico, Australia, and Japan]. Alyssa Medrano, M, University of Saint Katherine (2022: 10—5-5) From Covina, CA 2022-23 Senior 2022: 3GP 0G 0A Madison Tuma, 5’ 5”, F-M, Grace College (2022: 19-1-3) From Rochester, MN 2022-23 Senior 2020-2022: 65GP 26G 16A 2021 – NCCAA* Div. 1 Champions; 2021 & 2022: NCCAA All American 2019: Valparaiso University 13GP HS Haley Miller, M, American High School (home school) From Scappoose, OR 2022-23 HS Senior Portland Thorns Academy player Has trained with Thorns pro team Lives 30 minutes from Portland Expected #1 Draft Pick: Alyssa Thompson, 5’ 4”, F, Harvard-Westlake School (prep school) From Studio City, CA 2022-23 HS Senior Played on HS varsity soccer team Has 2 USWNT caps and scored 1 goal Has an NIL deal with Nike 2022 CONCACAF U20 Gold Medalist – 3 goals scored *NCCAA is the National Christian College Association -CJ 442
Since grad transfer students clearly had an impact on D3 teams last season, can anyone who has access to the transfer portal see if there are any D1 players transferring onto D3 teams?
The portal doesn’t show this; It has very limited information. Name, school, when they entered, when they updated their profile, and if they are a grad transfer. And if they have a preference not to be contacted. To your question though, I would be shocked if more large research schools like JHU didn’t take more advantage of the portal this year and really push their network and contacts to bring in those grad transfers.
February first was National Girls & Women in Sports Day. In recognition of the day, United Soccer Coaches Twitter featured four D3 Women Coaches - Julianne Sitch: Chicago, Sue Ryan: SUNY Stony Brook, Aliceann Wilber: William Smith, Dr. Colleen Hacker: Pacific Lutheran Our next spotlight for #NGWSD is Julianne Sitch. @JSitch38 became the first female to coach a men’s soccer team to an NCAA title this past December, after leading @UofCMensSoccer to victory in the NCAA Division III Men’s Championship. pic.twitter.com/eDVQrIcXXq— United Soccer Coaches (@UnitedCoaches) February 2, 2023 Our fifth #NGWSD spotlight belongs to Sue Ryan. Ryan served on the @UnitedCoaches Advocacy Council, and in her 30+ years as a collegiate head coach, she led @StonyBrookWSOC from NCAA Division III to a Division I program in the America East Conference. pic.twitter.com/O1tzZVOPls— United Soccer Coaches (@UnitedCoaches) February 1, 2023 Our second #NGWSD spotlight belongs to Aliceann Wilber. The only coach William Smith has ever known, Wilber was inducted into the United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame in 2018, the Heron Hall of Honor in 2002, and the Brockport Hall of Fame in 2022. pic.twitter.com/85q02oov0Y— United Soccer Coaches (@UnitedCoaches) February 1, 2023 Happy National Girls & Women in Sports Day! Follow along with us on social media as we spotlight some of the phenomenal women in the game. Our first spotlight for #NGWSD is Dr. Colleen Hacker, one of the first women inducted into the United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/MTRkmFiayE— United Soccer Coaches (@UnitedCoaches) February 1, 2023