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Tsawwassen soccer players reach NCAA quarter-final

It’s one of those rare moments you might never see again. Last Saturday night two Tsawwassen girls were included in the starting 11 for an NCAA Division 1 national quarter-final soccer game.

It’s one of those rare moments you might never see again.

Last Saturday night two Tsawwassen girls were included in the starting 11 for an NCAA Division 1 national quarter-final soccer game.

Alessia Azermadhi and Olivia Sheppard suited up for Princeton in the elite eight NCAA College Cup against UCLA.

Princeton, ranked 13th in the country, pulled off a huge upset the week prior beating No. 2 ranked North Carolina 2-1 in overtime to set up the match-up with the No. 4 ranked Bruins.

On Saturday, the Bruins attacked the Tigers from the get-go, scoring goals in the 16th and 18th minutes on their way to a 3-1 win and a trip to the semifinals against No. 3 Duke tonight in Orlando.

The NCAA tournament appearance was the 12th in school history and the third in the last six years, all of which have seen Princeton advance to at least the second round. The quarterfinal appearance was the Tigers’ best showing  since 2004, which saw Princeton make it to the College Cup semis before UCLA ended that run as well.

The Tigers outscored their opposition 44-11 on the way to a 16-3-1 record, the second-most wins in program history behind the 19-3 record the 2004 team posted.

Sheppard played in 19 games, starting 16 of them in her sophomore campaign. The midfielder/defender registered one assist this season.

Azermadhi played 18 games, making seven starts, including both playoff games, in her senior season with the Tigers. She finishes her career at Princeton playing 67 games, starting 35 of those and registering four points, including one goal.