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DECEMBER 8, 2025
composed by STEVE ULRICH
No publication covers NCAA Division III better. #whyD3

🏆️ Bringing Home the Hardware. Congrats to WashU, Tufts, and Wisconsin-Oshkosh for their weekend NCAA Division III team championships.

🎶 Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. We Are The Champions. Queen

🗞️ In Today’s Playbook. Twice As Nice For Wash U. Late Heroics Lift Tufts to Fifth Men’s Soccer Title. You’ll Remember These Titans. John Carroll Stuns Mount Union As National Football Quarterfinals Are Set.

🗓️ What’s Happening Today. A busy day. The DIII Convention Planning Subcommittee, FAR Advisory Group, and the Presidents Council Futures Subcommittee all meet, while the DIII Athletic Communicators Emerging Elite begin a two-day session in Indianapolis. For good measure, the Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports Committee meets.

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Top Story

1. Twice As Nice For WashU

Washington University won its second consecutive DIII women’s soccer championship with a 2-1 triumph against UAA rival Emory.

It is the program’s third natty and was the 500th career victory for head coach Jim Conlon.

The Eagles (21-2-1) struck first as Madison Teng tallied in the 22nd minute. Bear first-year Monica Morales-Martinez got the equalizer in the 68’ off an assist from Olivia Clemons, named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player for the second straight year.

Less than two minutes later, Cami Colpitts scored the title-winning goal on a shot from the top of the box and the WashU (21-0-3) defense did the rest.

A MESSAGE FROM D3PLAYBOOK

2. Late Heroics Lift Tufts to Fifth Men’s Soccer Title

Xavier Canfin scored the biggest goal in his three seasons as his tally 4:52 into overtime was the golden goal in Tufts’ 2-1 victory against Trinity (Texas) for the NCAA Division III championship.

It is the fifth NCAA crown for the Jumbos and first since 2019 - the second-most in DIII history behind Messiah (11).

The Tigers (20-2-1) scored the opening goal in the 27’ as Luke Chandler scored off a rebound. The Trinity defense did their part for the next 62 minutes holding the lead, before Tufts got the equalizer with :08 remaining on late heroics from Mateo Bargagna. It was the latest goal scored in regulation in a DIII final.

Canfin was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player, while teammate Bijan Akhtarzandi earned the defensive honor.

3. You’ll Remember These Titans

Perfection.

The Wisconsin-Oshkosh women’s volleyball team (34-3) did not drop a set in their six matches to win the program’s first national title, downing La Verne, 25-17, 25-22, 25-21.

The Titans became the first program since 2004 to roll through the national tournament without a set loss.

Samantha Perlberg was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after recording 16 kills to go along with 13 digs and four blocks.

4. John Carroll Stuns Mount Union As National Quarterfinals Are Set

The round of 16 proved sweet for eight teams, especially John Carroll who ousted Mount Union in double overtime, 10-7. It is the Blue Streaks’ first playoff win over the Purple Raiders in five meetings and comes a year after JCU left the OAC for the NCAC.

Berry sprinted to a 22-0 lead at the break and held off a furious Trinity charge to down the Tigers, 31-23, for the Vikings’ first-ever trip to the national quarterfinals. Wheaton rolled over DePauw, 49-24, as Thunder QB Mark Forcucci threw four TD passes. Johns Hopkins spotted Salisbury an early score before storming past the Sea Gulls, 45-13. QB Bay Harvey accounted for 372 total yards and five scores. North Central also conceded the first points to UW-La Crosse before scoring the next 28 on its way to a 35-27 victory.

Surrendering early points was a theme of the day, as Bethel trailed UW-Platteville, 10-0. But the Royals kept the Pioneers off the scoreboard again until the final period to down UWP, 35-24. UW-River Falls saved face for the WIAC as the Falcons rolled Saint John’s, 42-14. QB Kaleb Blaha accounted for 342 yards and four TDs. Eastern’s storybook year 3 season came to a halt as Susquehanna blanked the Eagles, 29-0.

Quarterfinals
John Carroll at Berry; Bethel at North Central; Wheaton at UW-River Falls; Susquehanna at Johns Hopkins.

5. Lightning Round ⚡️ 

» Football. Mount Union graduate Matt Campbell ‘02 was named head football coach at Penn State.

» Field Hockey. “The United East Conference and the Atlantic East Conference announced a field hockey partnership beginning Fall 2026. As part of the partnership, the Atlantic East’s two programs will join the six United East programs to for an eight-team league.”

» Finances. “Fitch Ratings on Thursday issued a “deteriorating” outlook for the higher education sector in 2026, continuing the gloomy prediction the agency issued for 2025. Analysts based their forecast on a shrinking prospective student base, “rising uncertainty related to state and federal support, continued expense escalation and shifting economic conditions.”

» Basketball. “Henrico County (Va.) will host a new men's basketball tournament designed to bring together former NCAA Division III championship programs under one roof. The inaugural DIII Champions Classic, will take place Dec. 28–29, 2026, at the Henrico Sports and Events Center in Glen Allen. The 2026 field will feature four programs with deep championship pedigrees and a collective 98 NCAA Tournament appearances, 35 Sweet 16 runs, 12 Final Four berths, and five national titles: Randolph-Macon, Christopher Newport, Babson, Scranton.

» Fundraising. Adrian College’s Giving Tuesday raised $295,926 from 1,268 donors.

» Elite Student Award. Congratulations to Emory men’s soccer athlete Michael Constant.

6. Comings and Goings

BABSON - Announced that head men’s golf coach Jeff Page will retire at conclusion of 2025-26 season
BARUCH - Announced Dima Kamenschchik has retired as head men’s soccer coach. He will continue in his role as assistant AD
BRIDGEWATER - Announced addition of women’s flag football as a varsity sport in 2026-27
CARROLL - Named Tom Torres head women’s soccer coach
CLAREMONT McKENNA - Selected Will Dudley as president
HIRAM - Removed interim tag from head volleyball coach Macy Roell
KEYSTONE - Selected DeJon Bennett-Monroe as head cross country/track and field coach
ROCHESTER - Announced DJ Civiletti will step down as director of rowing
THIEL - Named Jon Bevier as head women’s flag football coach

7. The Cost of College Across U.S. States

“This visualization compares the cost of attending college as a share of household income for full-time, in-state students living on campus. Alaska is excluded from the analysis because data was unavailable.

The data for this visualization comes from WalletHub as of October 2025. WalletHub’s methodology includes tuition, fees, room and board, and associated expenses.

Pennsylvania ranks as the most expensive state for college, with costs reaching 72.5% of household income. This reflects high tuition levels even though the state invests heavily in financial aid.”

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