Recapping Thursday’s semifinals of the NCAA Division II women’s soccer tournament held at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. No. 4 Franklin Pierce 2, No. 1 Washburn 1 Franklin Pierce scored twice within 62 seconds, overcoming a one-goal deficit and stunning the tournament’s top seed. Washburn (14-4-6) struck first with a goal from freshman Leah Henke in the 66th minute. Sam Searcey played it into the box, where Henke took it along the right side and shot across the goal and past goalkeeper Jess LaCroix and put the Ichabods in front. The Ravens responded with a little trickery with eight minutes remaining. Looking at a free kick from about 5 yards outside the box, three players stepped up to and over the ball. Finally, it was Kaitlyn Bautista who emerged from the confusion and blasted the shot just inside the right edge of the goal. It was only 62 seconds later that Franklin Pierce took the lead off a corner kick. Claudia Peirce played it in to Olivia Crespo, who took a shot that deflected off a Washburn defender. It deflected to Makenzie Shean, who shot in the game-winning goal. The two quick goals came a Washburn – from Topeka, Kan. – defense that was giving up just .78 goals per match. Franklin Pierce (17-2-5), from Ringe, New Hampshire, will seek its sixth national championship on Saturday as it plays in a NCAA Championship match for the eighth time. No. 3 Florida Tech 1, No. 2 Cal Poly Pomona 0 All-American Sara Batchadji scored in the 50th minute and Florida Tech made it hold up to knock off the defending national champions. Batchadji’s goal, off an assist from Savannah Oxley, was the first in the postseason allowed by Cal Poly Pomona (18-3-3). Goalkeeper Jenna Tetrault had a hand on Batchadji’s shot, but the attempt from short range bounded off of her and into the goal. Batchadji, a junior from Lubeck, Germany, entered the match with four goals in 24 games this season. The Broncos’ best look at the equalizer came when a header from Vanessa Cruz that bounced off the right post. With eight minutes remaining Marisa Salazar launched a shot that missed left by a foot or two. Florida Tech (16-3-6) will eye its first national title when it meets No. 4 Franklin Pierce at Weidner Field at 3 p.m. Saturday. Grand Valley State, which won titles in 2019 and in Colorado Springs in 2021 after the 2020 season was canceled, remains the most recent team to win back-to-back titles. ...read more read less