For many athletic teams at Case Western Reserve University, reaching the NCAA tournament is a once-in-a-career milestone. For the women’s soccer program, it’s simply expected.

For the class of 2026, that standard turned into history as they advanced to the tournament in all four years of their collegiate careers. But on Sunday, Nov. 16, that journey came to a heart-wrenching close on their home field in a tense penalty shootout.

The Spartans’ season officially ended Sunday as they fell 3-0 in a penalty kick shootout against Swarthmore College in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship. This was following a 1-1 tie between CWRU and Swarthmore that went into double overtime. With the conclusion of this game, the Spartans end their season with a 14-2-4 record with the Garnet moving to 15-3-4.

While the result of this past weekend’s game may be one that the Spartans were not hoping for, it nonetheless caps off an incredible season for the team full of numerous highs and records.

“Although we did not make it as far in the post-season as we all hoped for, this season’s team culture and bond exceeded my expectations,” third-year defender Kat Tsarouhas said. “Compared to previous seasons, this year was such a fun and positive experience. In my opinion, that is what helped us perform so well against the top teams in the country.”

Similar sentiments were expressed by fourth-year midfielder and co-captain Mackenzie Mueller, who capped off a stellar career Sunday night.

“I am very proud of the sheer number of people who stepped up this season when we needed them,” Mueller said. “This season was truly a team effort in every sense. Whether it was someone scoring a goal in a big moment, playing new positions, dealing with injuries or showing up with energy, this group of girls leaned on each other and rose to every occasion.”

Among their accomplishments, the team extended their undefeated streak to 63 upon their win over Baldwin Wallace University on Sept. 30. The squad also achieved 57 goals in 18 regular season games, the most in program history.

While they fell short of a championship ring, the team’s advancement to the second round of the NCAA Tournament nonetheless marked the Spartans’ fifth consecutive appearance on the national stage.

Helping make these accomplishments possible were the team’s 10 fourth-years: captains Mueller, Jamie Goldfarb and Alexis Sassower; defenders Emma Struck and Julia Flynn; forwards Maggie Farra, Molly Shamah and Andrea Silva; midfielder Ceci Dapino; and student manager Mikaela Ramos. Together, this senior class has left a lasting mark on the program, redefining the standards of CWRU women’s soccer and exemplifying what it means to be a Spartan both on and off the field.

“There are truly no words to describe the impact this year’s seniors had on the team. Besides being talented soccer players, they were leaders on and off the field and role models for myself and many of my teammates,” Tsarouhas said. “The love, passion and commitment they had for our team was admirable.”

Through all of their success this season, the team was still not without its challenges. Mueller called attention to various ways in which the team was challenged this year.

“I think a big challenge was that we often played well but didn’t always get the result we felt we deserved. Strong performances don’t always translate to wins, and that’s just how the game goes sometimes,” Mueller said. “I also think there was some natural pressure that came with having such an experienced and talented group. We knew what we were capable of, and with that came high expectations, both internally and externally. On top of that, injuries of course affected our season and led to some adversity.”

Despite every obstacle, however, the team persevered and continued to show up for each other, highlighting how strong their bond was even through tough times. This bond is one that Mueller expects to see continue on and flourish long after she and her fellow seniors have graduated.

“With such a large senior class graduating, it’ll definitely be an adjustment, but it is nothing this group can’t handle,” Mueller said. “The underclassmen have shown tremendous growth and are extremely hungry to learn and improve. They have proven that they know how to step up in big moments and embrace the culture we have built.”

Younger members of the team have already begun making their mark on the field. Second-year goalkeeper Ellie Palaian—alongside defenders Tsarouhas, first-year Mia Modrovich, second-year Kinzly Gootman and third-year Kaylee Bannack—helped break the single-season program record for shutouts, with Palaian earning 12 to her name this season. First-year Izzy Probst was named the UAA Rookie of the Year for an impressive debut campaign, highlighted by her scoring two of CWRU’s five goals against the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology during the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Against the backdrop of these highlights, Tsarouhas is confident in the team’s ability to replicate and even exceed the successes that have been accomplished over this past season.

“Moving forward, I expect our team to build on the competitive energy and confidence we developed this season,” Tsarouhas said. “We should continue to raise our standards, pushing ourselves to play at the highest level, and staying committed to the team-first mindset that makes us successful. If we keep challenging each other and staying disciplined, we can continue competing as one of the best women’s soccer programs in the nation.”

Before then, however, the team is ready to celebrate their final moments with this year’s senior class, grateful for all that they have done.

“Finishing my final season of collegiate soccer has affected me deeply as an athlete and a person,” Mueller said. “This sport and my role on the team has taught me how to navigate pressure with grace and stay grounded in moments of uncertainty. Knowing that my actions, words and energy could help shape the experience of my teammates is more than I could ask for. This season reminded me that success is not always measured in wins or stats, but the impact we leave behind.”