INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - - The Wilmington University women's soccer team saw its fate laid out in front of itself on Monday night as the NCAA released its Division II Women's Soccer bracket and announced the Wildcats as the sixth seed in the East Region, heading to play Saint Rose on Friday, November 9 at Ronald J. Abdow Field.
Wilmington (13-6-2) earned its first berth into the NCAA Regional after winning the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament on Sunday, defeating Philadelphia, 1-0, in the championship. The Wildcats also won the CACC Regular Season Title, going 10-1-1 and earning the Tournament's number one seed on the final day of the regular season.
The Wildcats earned the conference's automatic bid into the East Region and will play third seeded and defending national champions Saint Rose (16-2-2, 12-1-2 Northeast 10). The nationally 17th ranked Golden Knights lost in the semifinals of the NE-10, 1-0, to eventual tournament champion Southern New Hampshire. Saint Rose spent the first three weeks of the season ranked No. 1 in the country.
The first round game will be played at American International College in Springfield, Mass. on November 9. American International (13-3-2) earned a first round bye as the region's number two seed. The 10th ranked Yellow Jackets were upset by eighth-seeded Adelphi University, 2-0, in the quarterfinal round of the NE-10 Championship Tournament.
In the other half of the region, top seeded LIU Post (15-2-2) earned a first round bye even after being upset in the East Coast Conference Tournament semifinal by eventual ECC Champion Dowling. The nationally ranked number four Pioneers defeated the Wildcats, 2-1, in the regular season.
Dowling (13-3-2) earned the East's number four seed after the ECC Tournament championship and will head to NE-10 champions, first round host and fifth seeded Southern New Hampshire (13-5-3). The winner will take on LIU Post in the second round on November 11.
Wilmington was the only regular season conference champion to also win its conference tournament out of the five teams in the East Region.
AGATE:
2012 NCAA Division II East Region Seedings:
- LIU Post
- American International
- St Rose
- Dowling
- Southern New Hampshire
- Wilmington
Schedule:
Friday, November 9
#3 Saint Rose vs. #6 Wilmington at American International
#4 Dowling at #5 Southern New Hampshire
Sunday, November 11
Saint Rose/Wilmington at #2 American International
Dowling/Southern New Hampshire vs. #1 LIU Post at Southern New Hampshire