The Northeastern women’s soccer team concluded its regular season Sunday, finishing with an 8-4-5 (6-2-4 CAA) record and earning its 13th consecutive CAA tournament bid. The Huskies’ confidence and ability has grown throughout the regular season, and they’re now ready to take on William & Mary (9-3-6, 6-3-3 CAA) on the road in the tournament’s quarterfinal Thursday.

For fifth-year midfielder Alexis Legowski, this year’s tournament is her last opportunity to earn the trophy. As captain this season, Legowski has kept the team moving forward. She tallied one goal and three assists this regular season, along with earning a First Team All-CAA honor.

“She’s been one of the best players in our conference for five years,” said head coach Ashley Phillips. “A lot of young people and older people look to her to guide and mentor them. She has done a really good job making sure people feel valued and appreciated.”

Players echoed that appreciation for their captain.

Legowski “is like the heart and core of our team,” said graduate goalkeeper Holland Stam. “She has played every position known to man in the past five games.”

Meanwhile, underclassmen have also stepped up and delivered for the team, including sophomore forward Vivian Akyirem. Akyirem proved the significance of her 2023 CAA Preseason Player of the Year title throughout the regular season, proving herself to be pivotal to the team’s offense with six goals and four assists this season, and, most notably, the game-winning goal against the top-seeded Towson Tigers. 

In that Oct. 15 matchup against Towson, Akyirem snuck around Tigers senior goalkeeper Riley Melendez and fired the ball into the bottom right of the net, breaking the Tigers’ four-game shutout streak, securing the Huskies a spot in the CAA Championship.

“Clinching a playoff spot earlier than we have in previous seasons was testament to the group’s desire to get back there and try and get ourselves in a position to compete for another championship,” Phillips said. “[Akyirem] scores when we need to, and when she’s not, she’s trying to help other people get chances to score goals, and if that’s not working, she’s helping us defend. That’s all we can really ask.”

Tied with Akyirem for most goals this season is senior forward Jessie Hunt, who is an assistant captain alongside senior defender Faith Rosenblatt. Hunt tallied 10 assists, an all-team high, and is a First Team All-CAA honoree for the second consecutive time. Rosenblatt, a consistent force on the defense, played 1446 minutes this fall, more than any other player on the team. Stam played 1335 minutes, the second most of the season.

Phillips emphasized how Legowski, Hunt and Rosenblatt each made essential contributions to the Northeastern program this season, on and off the field.

“I don’t know that we’ve ever had a captainship where all play such a significant role in the group,” Phillips said. “They’re really good people and invest in their teammates.” 

Role models abound on the team even outside the captaincy trio. Northeastern’s defense found late-season success with four straight shutouts, and leading the charge was Stam, who was named CAA defensive player for two consecutive weeks in October. 

“I’ve been so well-prepared through the trainings to feel like every single day this season, I’ve been improving, communicating with my backline to keep them organized to set us up for success,” Stam said. “Overall, moving forward, just knowing that we have that ability as a team to lock in and finish games.”

In the pivotal game against Towson, Stam executed one of the most crucial saves of the season. When Tigers midfielder Alexandra Rush took a threatening shot on goal, Stam acted quickly, flashing out her right leg and blocking the attempt. This kept Towson off the board for the remainder of the game, securing the victory for the Huskies.

However, Northeastern could not keep William & Mary out of the net in their matchup Oct. 22. With a 2-1 finish in favor of the Tribe, the Huskies are preparing for their rematch in the championship tournament.

“This group is definitely a mentality-driven team; the pressure of it excites them,” Phillips said. “We’re excited to see them raise the bar on Thursday night.”

Going into Thursday, the team is focusing on its ability to play, execute and communicate with each other, Phillips said. Rather than dwelling on the loss to William & Mary, the Huskies are prioritizing what is in their control and the vitality they put out.

“Any given day, we have the ability to be successful, and we know that,” Stam said. “It’s a matter of making sure we rally around each other and bring the same energy that we know we can, no matter the circumstance. Now it’s a make-or-break, do-or-die moment.”

Last year, the Huskies had a competitive run in the CAA Championships, but were defeated 1-2 by Hofstra (12-4-1, 9-2-1 CAA) in the double overtime of the finals. The Huskies haven’t won the championship since 2016 and are looking to change that.

The positive team culture is reflected in players’ motivations to work hard for each other. For graduating seniors, the result of this season concludes their college careers, and everybody wants to finish on a high note. 

“A big thing is playing for the people around you,” Legowsi said. “It encourages people to see the joy and happiness and teammates’ faces when we score.”

Hunt reemphasized the special bond teammates have and the atmosphere this creates in games: “Going into a playoff game knowing that this could be the last time playing with some of the older players is an extra motivating factor because it’s people that you love and care about so much.”