20 for 20: USCAA Championships - Part 1 - Women's Soccer

The 2020-21 athletic year is the 20th year that I (Paul Welker) have served as Alfred State's Sports Information Director. During this school year I plan on writing a 20-part series on my time covering the Pioneers.

The process of the moving to Division III of the NCAA was the beginning of a new era for Pioneer student-athletes. The process also included a five year window in which Alfred State could not participate in postseason competition. During that time period the college joined the United State Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). This membership allowed for postseason play and recognition for our athletes during this transition period. The partnership with the USCAA provided numerous memorable championship opportunities in Charleston, WV, Asheville, NC or Virginia Beach, VA.

One team that took full advantage of the USCAA was the women's soccer program. The women's soccer team had reached new heights in 2012 as the team headed into the USCAA era. The team was ranked #1 at times in the NJCAA DIII poll and finished the season with a 17-2 overall record. A core of that team returned in 2013 as the program began the USCAA era. 

2013 - The duo of Kali Muhleisen and Hannah Holmok along with a nucleus of young talent jumped into the national spotlight right away in the USCAA. The team played a regular season schedule that featured games vs. NCAA DIII, NJCAA, and USCAA schools. The team earned their way into the USCAA National poll and earned the #5 seed for the USCAA National Championships that were being held in Charleston, WV. The team defeated SUNY ESF 4-1 in the quarterfinals and battled USCAA power Maine Fort Kent all the way to the end before falling 2-1 to the eventual national champions.

Muhleisen and Holmok who were NJCAA All-Americans in 2012 became USCAA All-Americans in 2013. Mulheisen netted 21 goals and passed out two assists while Holmok had five goals and passed out a team high nine assists. They were joined on the All-American team by goalkeeper Krista DeCarlo who was 12-5-1 record with a 1.33 goals against average.

2014 - After announcing themselves to the rest of the USCAA in 2013, the Pioneers upped the difficulty of their schedule by playing only four-year schools. The team used a nine game unbeaten streak in September to propel them to a second straight trip to Charleston, WV as the #4 seed. The team couldn't get the offense going in the quarterfinals vs. Florida and fell 3-0 and then tied the hosts West Virginia Tech 2-2 in a consolation game to complete the year with a 9-8-2 mark.

Muhleisen repeated as a 1st team USCAA All-American after netting 21 goals and passing out two assists. Kaitlin Huyler and Alexis Flint also earned All-American honors.

2015 - The USCAA National Championship site moved to Asheville, NC and the Pioneers made it 3 for 3 as they qualified for the tournament again after a 8-7-1 regular season. The team was seeded #5 and took on nearby rival Bryant & Stratton in the quarterfinals. The Bobcats were able to avenge an earlier loss to the Pioneers and defeated them 3-0 in the quarters. The Pioneers bounced back and ended the season with a 3-0 win over Maine Machias in the consolation match.

Keri Teufel, Haley Russell, Haley Vosburg, and Nicole Gilbert were all named USCAA All-Americans.

2015 also marked the first group of four-year members of the team finishing their career. Teufel, Allison Vargeson, and Anna Rath became the helped the blue & gold to 46 victories over their four years.

2016 - A pair of victories in their final two games of the regular season paved the way to the Pioneers 4th straight trip to USCAA Nationals. The 2016 Nationals shifted to Virginia Beach, VA where the soccer championship was part of a whole festival of fall championships. The event featured both the men's and women's soccer championship, the volleyball championship, and the cross country championship. The soccer championships also featured the debut of Pool play to determine who advanced to the semifinals.

The Pioneers were seeded #8 in the national tournament and were placed in a pool with #1 Maine Fort Kent and #12 SUNY Delhi. The UMFK Bengals knocked off the Pioneers in the opening game of pool play but the blue & gold bounced back with a conving 8-1 victory over Delhi. The 1-1 mark was not enough to move out of pool play and the team finished the season with a 9-8 over record.

Allison Danielak was named 1st team USCAA All-American after making 87 saves. Brooke Geibel scored 13 goals and had eight assists and earned 2nd team honors while Jocelynn Brittingham and Stormi Kruger were honorable mention honorees.

The year after (2017) the Pioneers left the USCAA and the team continued to push for the postseason. They finished the 2017 season 12-4 and won the first ever ACAA Championship with a 2-0 win over SUNY Canton.

Women's Soccer USCAA Era (2013-16) by the numbers:

37 victories

14 USCAA All-Americans

4 Straight trips to the USCAA National Championships

Coming up Next - A look at the volleyball, cross country, and the women's basketball team's experience at the USCAA Championships.

Previous 20 for 20's:

Story 1: The First Fall

Story 2: Gina and Juice

Story 3: Nose, Ear, Knee

Story 4: Football Tales

Story 5: Sand Storm

Story 6: The Voice of the Pioneers

Story 7: Homecoming