PROVIDENCE, R.I. – When the Little East Conference (LEC) began sponsoring women’s soccer in 1990, Plymouth State immediately established itself as the program to beat. The Panthers finished atop the conference standings in each of the league’s first eight seasons, building a run of success that included six NCAA tournament appearances, two Final Four trips and a national championship game appearance from 1990 through 1997.
During that stretch, Plymouth State also earned two ECAC tournament berths and captured the 1995 ECAC championship. Under head coaches Nancy Feldman and Marti Kingsley, the Panthers paired consistent conference success with postseason opportunities every year.
SETTING THE STANDARD
Feldman took over in 1990 and guided Plymouth State to NCAA tournament appearances in each of her five seasons. Her first team put together a 13-match winning streak, including 10 shutouts, and finished the regular season ranked first in New England.
The Panthers reached the national semifinals in 1991 after defeating Kean and Cortland State. Playing at home in the Final Four, Plymouth State fell to Rochester, 1-0. The following season brought the program’s first unbeaten regular season, as the Panthers went 14-0-2 before returning to NCAA tournament play.
Among the players who helped establish that early success was Kristin Mainella, a three-time First Team All-LEC selection from 1990 through 1992. Mainella earned All-America honors as a senior and finished her career with 31 goals, 30 assists and 92 points. Her teams compiled a combined 60-8-3 record from 1989 through 1992.
A RUN TO THE NATIONAL FINAL
Plymouth State advanced another step in 1993. After sharing first place in the LEC, the Panthers recorded NCAA tournament shutouts against Williams and Rochester to reach the Final Four. They then defeated UC San Diego in double overtime, handing the opponent its only loss of the season and securing a place in the national championship game.
Although Trenton State claimed the national title, the appearance marked the high point of Plymouth State’s NCAA success during its eight-year conference run. Feldman earned New England Region Coach of the Year honors that season.
CONTINUING THE TRADITION
Kingsley assumed leadership in 1995 and kept the Panthers atop the standings. Plymouth State finished 15-3-3 and won the ECAC championship in her first season, then returned to the ECAC tournament in 1996.
The Panthers closed the eight-year stretch with a 15-2-1 record in 1997, including a perfect 7-0-0 conference mark and another NCAA tournament appearance. Across the eight seasons, Plymouth State compiled a 116-22-12 overall record and a 33-1-1 mark in LEC play. Those results established an early standard of sustained success in Little East women’s soccer.
LEC 40 FOR 40 SERIES
The Little East Conference is celebrating its 40th anniversary during the 2026-27 academic year with its “LEC 40 for 40 Series,” which features 40 installments highlighting the people, programs and moments that have contributed to the conference’s storied history and success.