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UW Women’s Soccer, WOMEN’S SPORTS

Ijams and Newlin Rise as Washington Women’s Soccer Advances to NCAA Tournament Elite Eight

Fighting all the way through penalty kicks, the Huskies stand three wins from a championship.

Evan Morud

November 23, 2025

3 minutes

SOCCER, UW, UW Women’s Soccer, WOMEN’S SPORTS

November 23, 2025 — The University of Washington women’s soccer team stood tall in yet another test during the 2025 NCAA Division-I Women’s Soccer Tournament’s Sweet Sixteen round, taking down one-seed Virginia 1-1 (5-4 in penalty kicks) to advance to the Elite Eight round against No. 11 Duke on Friday.

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Washington entered the game with a five-game winning streak in-hand, winning the 2025 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Tournament Title after taking down Illinois, No. 15 Wisconsin, and No. 9 Michigan State. Then, in the national tournament, victories against Montana and No. 4 Arkansas helped the Huskies advance to the Sweet Sixteen.

Amid the winning was the devastating passing of Washington goalkeeper Mia Hamant on November 6 following her battle with Stage 4 SMARCB1-deficient RMC: A rare form of kidney cancer. The Huskies lost Hamant just three days before their Big Ten Tournament Championship date with Michigan State, adding an emotional surge and a purpose bigger than soccer into every competition throughout the entirety of the big dance.

The game against No. 7 Virginia was no different: It was for Mia. And fittingly, fellow goalkeeper Tanner Ijams played hero, advancing Washington, their dedication to Mia, and Mia’s legacy into the Elite Eight.

Senior forward Kalea Eichenberger knocked in Washington’s only goal of regulation during the match’s 13th minute, providing the Huskies an early 1-0 lead. Receiving a feed on an inbound kick from junior midfielder/defender Anna Menti, Eichenberger drilled a kick to the upper right corner of the net just out of reach from Virginia junior goalkeeper Victoria Safradin.

Washington held their 1-0 advantage until shortly into the second half as the Cavaliers netted the equalizing goal at the first second of the 54-minute mark. After being double-assisted by senior defender Laney Rouse and junior midfielder Ella Carter, freshman forward/midfielder Addison Halpern fired a shot to the left side of Ijams for the tying goal.

The 1-1 knot held throughout the remainder of regulation and the entire 20 minutes spent between two overtime periods, sending the game to penalty kicks. Ijams saved Virginia’s first penalty kick, diving to the goal’s left side to stop the shot attempt by senior forward Maddie Cagle. Washington’s first penalty kick attempt sank into the net as Menti drilled her kick into the net’s lower right corner.

After the teams exchanged successful penalty kicks in the middle rounds of the shootout, Washington had the final opportunity to kick in round five. Holding Ijams’ round-one save in their back pocket, a successful penalty kick by senior midfielder Lucy Newlin would decide the game in Washington’s favor.

Lined up for the penalty kick attempt with a 4-4 shootout tie on the board, Newlin drove a kick above the head of Safradin for the game-winning goal. Upon sinking the shot, Newlin and the Huskies dogpiled in celebration near the goalie box, hugging and cheering while adorning orange ribbons in support of Hamant.

With their victory, Washington and head coach Nicole Van Dyke stand only three wins away from earning the 2025 NCAA Division-I Women’s Soccer National Championship.

Next Up: Washington will face No. 11 Duke in the Elite Eight round of the 2025 NCAA Division-I Women’s Soccer Tournament on Friday, November 28, in Durham, North Carolina. The match is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. PST.