COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Braelea Loftin (So., Riverside, Calif.), Mia Senmache (So., Morovis, Puerto Rico) and Shannon Connolly (Sr., Santa Barbara, Calif.) each scored three times to share Player of the Game status as host/No. 11-ranked/Texas Division Champion Texas A&M University defeated No. 15/Northwest Division Champion the University of Washington, 11-5, in the 11th Place game of the 2024 Women’s National Collegiate Club Championship at A&M’s Student Rec Center.
Texas A&M – which made prior appearances at the Women’s National Collegiate Club Championship in 2001 (eighth), 2005 (12th), 2008 (15th), 2010 (13th), 2013 (12th), 2014 (12th), 2015 (15th), 2017 (Ninth), 2018 (13th), 2022 (sixth) and 2023 (fifth) – never trailed in outscoring the Huskies 2-0, 4-2 and 4-2 in the second, third and fourth quarters, respectively, following a first quarter in which both programs netted one goal.
Sydney Vu (Gr., Houston, Texas) opened the scoring by converting a man-up opportunity with 3:17 left in the first quarter prior to Washington – which previously claimed First (2000), Sixth (2003, 2019, 2023), Seventh (2016, 2017, 2018), Eighth (2004) and 13th (2008) in previous appearances at the Women’s National Collegiate Club Championship – tying the contest via a strike by Josephine Southwell (Fr., Seattle, Wash.) with 28 seconds remaining on the frame’s clock.
Loftin (3:37, man-up) and Connolly (2:29, penalty shot) accounted for the only offense in the second quarter as the Aggies acquired a 3-1 lead entering halftime.
Mia Stitt (Fr., Gig Harbor, Wash.) trimmed Texas A&M’s lead to 3-2 with 4:03 left in the third quarter, but the Aggies responded as Senmache (3:38), Loftin (1:42; 52 seconds) and Connolly (33 seconds, man-up) combined for a four-goal outburst to widen the gap between the teams to 7-2.
Addie Sciammas (Sr., Pleasanton, Calif.) terminated the run for the Huskies by denting the twine with three seconds left in the third quarter to inch Washington back within four at 7-3.
Southwell chipped another tally off the Huskies’ scoreboard disadvantage by lining in a shot with 4:18 remaining in the fourth quarter to make it a 7-4 contest.
Natural (4:02) and man-up (3:30) scores by Connolly made it 9-4, Southwell struck again at 1:35 to close within 9-5 and the duo of Kayla Shaunfield (Sr., Houston, Texas) and Connolly wrapped up the Aggies’ offense by tossing home insurance markers with 38 and nine seconds left, respectively, for the 11-5 final score.
For Texas A&M, Vu and Shaunfield notched solo scores to go along with hat-tricks by Loftin, Connolly and Senmache. Goalkeepers Leah Nelson (Sr., Alvin, Texas) (four, first half) and Reagan Smith (Fr., Oceanside, Calif.) (seven, second half) combined for 11 saves.
Southwell (three), Sciammas and Stitt accounted for the Huskies’ five goals with Julia Lubas (So., Sonoma, Calif.) stopping five shots in taking the loss guarding the cage.
| 1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | – | FINAL | |
| No. 15 University of Washington |
1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | – | 5 |
| No. 11 Texas A&M University | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | – | 11 |
| Texas A&M Goals: | Braelea Loftin (3); Shannon Connolly (3); Mia Senmache (3); Sydney Vu; Kayla Shaunfield | |||||
| Washington Goals: | Josephine Southwell (3); Addie Sciammas; Mia Stitt | |||||
| Saves: | Texas A&M – Leah Nelson (4, 14 minutes), Reagan Smith (7, 14 minutes) ; Washington – Julia Lubas (5) | |||||
| Exclusions: | Texas A&M – None ; Washington – 5 | |||||
| Advantage Opportunities: | Texas A&M – 5-for-5; Washington – None | |||||
| Sprints: | Texas A&M – 2-for-4 (2nd, 3rd) ; Washington – 2-for-4 (1st, 4th) | |||||
| Cards/Misconducts: | None | |||||
| Officials: | John Rightmyer, Philippe Knall | |||||
Texas A&M University’s Braelea Loftin (#17) shoots against the University of Washington
The University of Washington’s Josephine Southwell (#9) attempts a backhand against Texas A&M University’s Emily Nguyen (#5)
Texas A&M University’s Shannon Connolly (#12) & the University of Washington’s Addie Sciammas (#10)
