No. 3 Western Washington wins the 2022 DII women's soccer championship

The semifinal round of the 2022 DII women's soccer championship concluded Thursday night. 

The winners will square off in Saturday's national championship.

Here is today's semifinal schedule (all times ET):

• No. 1 West Chester 2, No. 4 Ferris State 1 | Watch full replay
• No. 3 Western Washington 2, No. 2 Columbus State 1 | Watch full replay

Click or tap here to see the interactive bracket

The championship game is set between No. 1 West Chester and No. 3 Western Washington. Catch the live streamed national title game Saturday, Dec. 3 on NCAA.com. 

Championship schedule (time in ET): 

• No. 1 West Chester vs. No. 3 Western Washington, 6 p.m. ET

What to know about each DII women's soccer semifinalist

The national semifinals of the 2022 DII women's soccer championship are set to kick off from Seattle, Washington at the DII Festival on Dec. 1. There will be a new national champion in 2022 DII women’s soccer as the defending champs Grand Valley State — which had appeared in the previous three title matches — was ousted by GLIAC rival Ferris State in a third-round upset in the DII women’s soccer championship tournament.

Not only will we have a new champion for 2022, but there is a chance we will have a first-time, brand-new DII women’s soccer champion. Of the final four teams heading to the DII Festival, only one — Western Washington — has won a national title... but more on the Vikings in a bit.

BRACKET: See how it all went down

Here’s a quick look at each team left standing in the 2022 DII women’s soccer championship.

No. 1 West Chester | Record: 22-0-1

The Golden Rams enter the national semifinals without a loss to their name. That’s a big improvement from the 12-5-3 West Chester team last season. It’s been quite the run so far: West Chester won its first PSAC tournament since 2010, is advancing to its first national semifinals since 2006, and is looking to win it all for the first time in program history.

The recipe for the Golden Rams' success isn’t hard to find. This team leads DII women’s soccer in goals-against-average by a wide margin (.301 GAA with the next closest being .447 GAA!). That starts with keeper Hayley McGee who’s allowed a mere seven goals this season. Her 15 shutouts are tops in DII, as is her .933 save percentage. Of course, she’s not alone, as West Chester’s defense has been one of the strongest all season long. Just don’t sleep on this offense as it still finished in the top 20 of DII with 2.48 goals per match.

No. 2 Columbus State | Record: 20-2-1

The Cougars are no strangers to postseason soccer, finishing as the national runners-up in 2015. This is the program’s third trip to the semifinals as well. However, the high-octane Cougars are searching for their first-ever national title, and this is the offense that may be able to get it done.

The complete opposite of No. 1 West Chester, Columbus State leads DII women’s soccer in scoring, averaging 3.87 goals per game. However, the Cougars only allow 0.65 goals against, so you can see how they dominated opponents this season. There were only six total matches so far in the DII women’s soccer championship that a team scored four or more goals… and the Cougars were two of them. It probably shouldn’t come as a surprise, but Columbus State has not one, but two of the top-5 goal scorers in the Division, with Emma Beddow and Rachael Sweigard each tallying 19 goals so far.

HISTORY: Every DII women's soccer national champion

No. 3 Western Washington | Record: 17-2-4

We come to the one semifinalist that has a shiny national championship trophy sitting in its case back home. In fact, back home isn’t too far from the DII Festival, as Bellingham, WA, is less than 90 miles away — making the Vikings the closest team still competing and likely receiving a boost in home-court feel. This is the Vikings' third trip to the national semifinals in the past six tournaments (remember, there was no bracket in 2020). Western Washington won it all in 2016 with a 23-0-1 record and lost in overtime to Grand Valley State in the 2019 title match. Like its distance to Seattle, championship-match experience is also not so far away in the past.

Per usual, this team is driven by defense, allowing a mere 0.48 goals per game, while scoring just about two goals per match. Keep an eye on Morgan Manalili. Despite all the WWU program experience playing in big time games, it was the GNAC freshman of the year that hit the game-winner in the GNAC championship match.

No. 4 Ferris State | Record 12-5-7

Meet the Cinderella of the dance. The Bulldogs upset No. 3 Ashland, No. 2 Cedarville and then defending champion and No. 1 Grand Valley State to win the Midwest for their first-ever Midwest Region championship. After blanking Bemidji State — another No. 2 seed — the Bulldogs are heading to the first semifinals in program history. In fact, Ferris State is such underdogs, it heads to Washington scoring the fewest number of goals per game (1.38) and allowing the most (0.78) among the remaining four teams.

The Bulldogs are rolling right now, though. Since allowing six goals in two games of the GLIAC tourney, the defense clamped down and have allowed a mere two in the DII tournament. Keeper Darya Mosallaei set the school’s career shutout record along the way, blanking Bemidji State on the road to get to Seattle. Throw away the stats and forget about the records. The DII women’s soccer championship semifinals are made up of two regional No. 1 seeds and one No. 2 seed. No. 6 Ferris State isn’t supposed to be here… and that may just make it the most dangerous of the bunch.

Geek-out fun stat: Over the five previous DII women’s soccer championships, at least two regional No. 1 seeds made up the semifinals each year. In 2021, 2019, and 2016, three No. 1 seeds made up the final four teams. A regional No. 1 seed has won four of the last five championships with Bridgeport (No. 2 in the East) winning in 2018. Ferris State is only the third seed lower than a No. 3 to make it to the national semifinals… and the previous two were not only shutout but blanked by a combined score of 7-0. The DII women’s championship is no place for underdogs. So, grab the popcorn, Ferris State fans. There’s history to be made.

The 2022 DII women's soccer tournament continued Saturday with quarterfinal action.

Here was the final score from Saturday:

• No. 2 Western Washington 3, No. 2 Colorado School of Mines 1

The quarterfinals will continue Sunday with three more games on the docket (all times ET):

• No. 1 Columbus St. vs. No. 3 West Florida, 12 p.m.
• No. 1 West Chester vs. No. 2 Franklin Pierce, 3 p.m.
• No. 2 Bemidji State vs. No. 6 Ferris State, 4 p.m.

You can click or tap here to see the interactive bracket.

The third round of the DII women's soccer championship concluded today to determine the six remaining teams advancing to the quarterfinals.

Here are Friday's scores:

• No. 1 West Chester 1, No. 7 Kutztown 0
• No. 3 West Florida 2, No. 1 Embry-Riddle (FL) 1
• No. 6 Ferris State 0, No. 1 Grand Valley State 0
• No. 2 Franklin Pierce 2, No. 1 Saint Rose 1
• No. 1 Columbus State 1, No. 3 Flagler 1, (3-1 PKs)
• No. 2 Bemidji State 1, No. 4 Emporia State 1 (3-1 PKs) 

You can click or tap here to see the interactive bracket.

Thursday's results:

• No. 2 Colorado School of Mines 1, No. 1 DBU 0 
• No. 2 Western Washington 1, No. 5 CUI 0

The quarterfinals will begin Saturday with one match on tap. Here is the schedule (ET):

• No. 2 Colorado School of Mines vs. No. 2 Western Washington, 4 p.m. 

The second round of the Division II women's soccer tournament continued Saturday with six matchups.

Here's a look at Saturday's results:

• No. 1 West Chester 1, No. 5 West Virginia State 0
• No. 3 West Florida 2, No. 2 Nova Southeastern 1
• No. 3 Flagler 1, No. 2 Catawba 1
• No. 6 Ferris State 3, No. 2 Cedarville 1
• No. 5 CUI 2, No. 1 Hawaii Hilo 1 (2OT)
• No. 2 Western Washington 1, No. 3 Point Loma 0

BRACKET: Click or tap here to view the bracket.

The second round continues tomorrow. Check out Sunday's matchups below.

All times Eastern

• No. 5 Lenoir-Rhyne vs. No. 1 Columbus State | 12 p.m.
• No. 4 Maryville (MO) vs. No. 1 Grand Valley State | 1 p.m.
• No. 4 Emporia State vs. No. 1 Central Missouri | 2 p.m.
• No. 4 West Texas A&M vs. No. 1 Dallas Baptist | 2 p.m.
• No. 3 Bridgeport vs. No. 2 Franklin Pierce | 2 p.m.
• No. 4 Mercy vs. No. 1 Saint Rose | 2 p.m.
• No. 6 UC-Colorado Springs vs. No. 2 Colorado School of Mines | 3 p.m.
• No. 3 Gannon vs. No. 7 Kutztown | 3 p.m.
• No. 3 Minnesota State vs. No. 2 Bemidji State | 4 p.m.
• No. 4 Florida Southern vs. No. 1 Embry-Riddle (FL) | 4 p.m.

The first round of the 2022 NCAA DII women's soccer championship has concluded after 16 matchups on Friday. Click or tap here to view the bracket.

Friday's schedule (all times ET):

• No. 4 Mercy 3, No. 5 Adelphi
• No. 4 Emporia State 5, No. 5 Fort Hays State 1
• No. 4 Maryville (MO) 1, No. 5 Northern Michigan 0
• No. 5 Lenoir-Rhyne 1, No. 4 Limestone 0
• No. 7 Kutztown 3, No. 2 Frostburg State 0
• No. 1 Saint Rose 3, No. 8 Jefferson 0
• No. 3 Minnesota State 1, No. 6 NW Missouri State 1 (Minnesota State wins 3-1 PK)
• No. 3 Bridgeport 1, No. 6 St. Anselm 1 (Bridgeport wins 3-2 PK)
• No. 1 Central Missouri 5, No. 8 Southwestern Oklahoma 0
• No. 3 Gannon 3, No. 6 Fairmont State 0
• No. 1 Columbus State 4, No. 8 UNG 2 
• No. 6 UC-Colorado Springs 2, No. 3 Angelo State 1
• No. 2 Bemidji State 3, No. 7 Central Oklahoma 0
• No. 2 Franklin Pierce 3, No. 7 Southern N.H. 2
• No. 4 Florida Southern 2, Mississippi College 1
• No. 4 West Texas A&M 2, No. 5 St. Mary’s (TX) 1

Second-round play will begin on Saturday (all times ET):

• No. 1 West Chester vs. No. 5 West Virginia State, 1 p.m.
• No. 2 Nova Southeastern vs. No. 3 West Florida, 2 p.m.
• No. 2 Catawba vs. No. 3 Flagler, 3 p.m.
• No. 2 Cedarville vs. No. 6 Ferris State, 3 p.m.
• No. 1 Hawaii Hilo vs. No. 5 CUI, 6 p.m.
• No. 2 Western Washington vs. No. 3 Point Loma, 6 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Committee today announced the field of 56 teams for the 2022 NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championship.

BRACKET: Click or tap here for the full 2022 DII women's soccer championship bracket

First round matches will take place Thursday, November 10 or Friday, November 11 and second round matches will take place either Saturday, November 12 or Sunday, November 13. All games will be played on the campus of a participating institution and will consist of two sites per region. The two finalists in each subregion will advance to third and quarterfinal-round competition to be played Thursday, November 17 or Friday, November 18 and Saturday, November 19 or Sunday, November 20. The semifinals and championship games will take place December 1 and 3 at Interbay Stadium in Seattle, Washington hosted by Seattle Pacific University.

DBU, West Chester, Saint Rose, Grand Valley State, Embry-Riddle (FL), Columbus State and Hawaii Hilo each earned No. 1 seeds.

MORE: Click or tap here for the complete DII women's soccer championship release

Photo by Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Image

The 2022 DII women's soccer selection show will air at 7 p.m. ET Monday, Nov. 7 on NCAA.com. The official bracket for the tournament will be made available shortly after. Here's how to watch the selection show: 

When: 7 p.m. ET on Monday, Nov. 7

Where: Live on NCAA.com

The first round of the championship begins Nov. 10. The semifinals are Dec. 1 ahead of the title game on Dec. 3. Both final site rounds will be played at Interbay Stadium in Seattle Washington.