Colby-Sawyer v Simmons: Perfect Season Meets Cinderella Run in the GNAC Final
The GNAC final on Saturday is a classic mismatch on paper, and that is exactly why it is worth watching.
Top-seeded Colby-Sawyer host sixth-seeded Simmons at noon on Saturday 7 November at Sally Shaw Veitch Track and Field in New London, New Hampshire. The Chargers are 17-2, went a perfect 9-0 in conference play, and have barely been troubled all season. Simmons are the lowest seed left standing, and they are playing in their first GNAC championship game since 2024.
Colby-Sawyer’s semifinal was anything but comfortable, though. They led Saint Joseph’s 2-0 at half-time through Abby Olden and Brooke Farquhar, then watched the Monks score twice in the third quarter to level it, Ava Markham and Zoey Lailer doing the damage. It took Olden’s second goal of the night, early in the fourth quarter off a penalty corner rebound, to settle a 3-2 win. The Chargers outshot Saint Joseph’s 20-7 and kept them without a single shot in the fourth quarter, but they were rattled. That is useful information for Simmons.
Simmons, meanwhile, had the smoother night. The Sharks beat seventh-seeded Dean 4-1 at home, controlling the game throughout. Nora Desrosiers opened the scoring, and the Sharks never let Dean back into it, sealing the win with a late fourth goal. It was a composed performance from a side that knows it is not supposed to be here, and that is often when teams are at their most dangerous.
The history between these two is short and one-sided this season, which is the problem for Simmons. Colby-Sawyer beat Saint Joseph’s 1-0 in the regular season and have beaten everyone in the conference at least once. But finals are funny things. Simmons have nothing to lose, a free hit at the top seed, and a place in the NCAA tournament on the line. Colby-Sawyer have everything to lose and a perfect conference record to protect.
For our money, the Chargers should win this. They are deeper, better organised and at home. But Simmons have already won twice to get here, and if they can survive the first quarter without conceding, this gets interesting fast.