COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (12/10/25) – After securing its second straight East Regional Championship with a 1-0 victory over No. 11 Jefferson, the Franklin Pierce University women's soccer team (16-2-5) heads west for a National Semifinal matchup with Washburn (14-3-6) on Thursday evening at Weidner Field.
The Ravens arrive in their second consecutive NCAA Final Four and 14th all-time—one of the four remaining programs highlighted by NCAA.com for their championship pedigree, elite defenses, and deep postseason experience. Franklin Pierce enters the semifinal as the top-scoring team left in the field, while Washburn advances as the No. 1 seed after reseeding following a run of postseason upsets.
Franklin Pierce vs. Washburn
Game Details: Thursday, December 11 | 5:00 PM EST (3:00 PM MT)
Location: Wiedner Field – Colorado Springs, Colo.
Series: First-ever meeting
Coverage: NCAA Champs Pass (Video & Live Stats)
Tickets
How They Got Here – Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce advanced to Colorado Springs with a dramatic 3–2 overtime win at West Chester, handing the Golden Rams their first home postseason defeat in years. The Ravens enter the semifinal on a five-match unbeaten streak and with one of Division II's most balanced attacks, producing 56 goals, 47 assists, and a +35 goal differential.
Franklin Pierce leads all remaining teams in scoring offense (2.4 goals per match) and ranks among the national leaders in assists per game. The Ravens' scoring depth has been central to that success, with Makenzie Shean, Claudia Peirce, Jenni Huttunen, Olivia Crespo, and McKenna Maguire combining for 38 goals, the most by any scoring group in the Final Four.
How They Got Here – Washburn
Washburn (14-3-6) enters the semifinal after a 3-2 win over Missouri–St. Louis in the national quarterfinals. The Ichabods built an early 2-0 lead, saw UMSL equalize, and responded with the decisive strike from MIAA Freshman of the Year Leah Henke, her 12th of the season.
Washburn is the lowest-scoring team left in the Final Four (1.6 goals per game) but compensates with elite defensive structure—ranking near the top of the field in goals-against average (0.78), save percentage, and defensive consistency. With MIAA Defender of the Year Belle Kennedy anchoring the back line and freshman goalkeeper Lili Everley (0.65 GAA, .821 save pct., 11 shutouts) controlling the penalty area, Washburn relies on a disciplined, low-risk style.
On the year, Washburn owns a +19 goal differential, a 155–87 shots-on-goal advantage, and a commanding 143–70 edge in corners.
Historical Context
Franklin Pierce remains one of the most decorated programs in Division II history:
- Five National Championships (1994, '95, '96, '97, '99)
- Four straight titles from 1994–97
- 14 NCAA Semifinal appearances, including 2024 and 2025
The Ravens seek their first championship match appearance since 2007 and their first national title since 1999.
With a Win
The winner of Thursday's match advances to the 2025 NCAA Division II National Championship on Saturday, December 13 at Weidner Field, where they will face the winner of the other semifinal: Cal Poly Pomona vs. Florida Tech.
