Cal State LA, Cal Poly Pomona and UC Merced earned selections to the NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championship, giving the CCAA three representatives in the seven-team West Region field.
 
The Golden Eagles (13-2-6) secured the No. 3 seed and will face sixth-seeded UC Merced (12-3-5) in an all-CCAA first-round matchup. Fourth-seeded Cal Poly Pomona (11-2-6) will open against No. 5 Simon Fraser (13-3-3).
 
Western Washington (16-2-3) earned the region’s top seed, a first-round bye and hosting duties for the upper half of the bracket. Second-seeded Concordia University Irvine (11-2-5) will host the lower half and face No. 7 Biola (9-5-4).
 
Cal Poly Pomona’s defense meets Simon Fraser’s attack
Cal Poly Pomona’s first-round matchup pairs one of the nation’s strongest defenses with one of its most productive offenses.
 
The Broncos enter with a 0.319 team goals-against average, seventh nationally, and rank 12th in shutout percentage (.684). Goalkeeper Parker LaMont ranks seventh individually in goals-against average (0.267), 12th in save percentage (.896) and fifth with 13 shutouts.
 
Simon Fraser counters with an attack averaging 2.47 goals per game, good for 15th nationally. The Red Leafs also rank fifth in assists per game (2.79) and eighth in shots per game (19.26). Kiera Scott leads the team with 34 points on 11 goals and 12 assists, ranking 15th nationally in total points.
 
The Broncos generate 16.53 shots per game, ranking 45th nationally, with Carly Radke averaging a team-leading 3.53 attempts. Their ability to turn those opportunities into goals while containing Simon Fraser’s attack will be central to the matchup.
 
The winner will advance to face Western Washington, which ranks fourth nationally in both goals-against average (0.286) and shutout percentage (.762). Vikings goalkeeper Ellie McGowan is tied for the national lead with 16 shutouts.
 
Cal State LA, UC Merced open against conference opposition
Cal State LA and UC Merced enter their first-round meeting with similar scoring averages and defenses ranked among the nation’s top 40. Their matchup guarantees the CCAA at least one representative in the second round.
 
The Golden Eagles average 1.71 goals per game and rank 19th nationally in team goals-against average (0.565). Their 7.90 corner kicks per game lead the West Region and rank sixth in Division II, providing a steady source of opportunities around the opposing goal.
 
Briana Chagolla leads Cal State LA with 10 goals and 23 points, while Celine Gehrig has contributed six goals and 15 points. Goalkeeper Kendyl Sumlin has recorded 10 shutouts and a 0.579 individual goals-against average.
 
UC Merced averages 1.65 goals per game and features two of the country’s leading offensive contributors. Jocelin Roa has scored 13 goals, including a Division II-leading nine game-winners. Andrea Alvarenga ranks fourth nationally with 14 assists and an average of 0.70 assists per game.
 
The Bobcats also bring a strong defensive foundation. UC Merced ranks 37th in team goals-against average (0.699), while goalkeeper Alicia Lepe ranks 14th nationally with 11 shutouts and 26th in save percentage (.859). The matchup will test Cal State LA’s ability to contain Roa while UC Merced works to limit the Golden Eagles’ scoring chances and corner-kick opportunities.
 
The winner will face either CUI or Biola in the second round. CUI averages 2.00 goals per game, led by Ashley Grubert’s 12 goals and 28 points. Biola’s Briley Phelps also has 12 goals and ranks seventh nationally in shots per game (5.28).
 
NCAA Power Index note
All three CCAA selections finished among the nation’s top 50 in the final NPI report used for selections through Nov. 8. Cal State LA ranked No. 38 (56.993), Cal Poly Pomona finished No. 40 (56.941), and UC Merced placed No. 48 (55.909). Among the other West Region qualifiers, Western Washington ranked No. 28 (58.241), CUI was No. 35 (57.226), Simon Fraser was No. 42 (56.770), and automatic qualifier Biola finished No. 78 (53.321).
 
Division II implemented NPI for team-sport championship selections beginning in 2026-27. After automatic qualifiers are determined, the system identifies at-large selections within the division’s regional allocation structure. Women’s soccer weights winning percentage at 25 percent and strength of schedule at 75 percent, with additional adjustments for game location and quality wins. Only Division II results count, and ties are valued as half a win and half a loss. The system replaces the previous committee-based regional ranking process with a consistent application of criteria established before the season.