INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. --- Three teams will represent the ODAC in the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament for the second time in three seasons in an announcement of the field of 64 teams by the NCAA earlier today. Conference champion University of Lynchburg will be joined by Bridgewater College and Virginia Wesleyan University as at-large selections.
Like the Hornets, 43 schools won their conference tournaments, awarding them automatic qualification into the field. One was allotted to true independent teams (or those playing in conference's without an AQ) in "Pool B," while the remaining 20 spots went to at-large selections in "Pool C."
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Lynchburg (18-2-2) has the additional benefit of hosting first and second round action this weekend. The Hornets open with Piedmont College (17-4-1), winners of the USA South championship. The other first round matchup features Emory University (13-4-1) and Penn State-Berks (15-3-2). Emory is an at-large selection out of the University Athletic Conference (UAA), while PSU-Berks won the North Eastern Atheltic Conference (NEAC) title.
Bridgewater (15-3-2) joins Lynchburg on the right side of the bracket and in the same semifinal quadrant. The Eagles will play early round action at Otterbein University (Ohio) on Friday and Saturday this weekend, unlike Lynchburg which will play Saturday and Sunday. Bridgewater opens with Hope College (14-2-2), an at-large choice out of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). The host Cardinals (16-2-1) take on the College of Staten Island (12-6-0) in the other first round pairing. Otterbein won the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) crown, while the Dolphins claimed the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) championship.
On the left side of the bracket lies Virginia Wesleyan (11-4-4), which will travel to Swarthmore College (Pa.) for the preliminary rounds. The Marlins open with New York University (10-5-3), an at-large selection out of the UAA. The host Garnet (15-2-2) meet St. Joseph's College of Maine (16-3-0). Swarthmore won the Centennial Conference title, while the Monks won their first-ever Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) crown.
First and second round action is slated for the weekend of November 9-11 with sectionals for the 16 advancing teams on November 16-18. The semifinals and championship will be played on November 30 and December 1 at the UNCG Soccer Stadium in Greensboro, N.C.
Match times and ticket information will be announced later this week. For more information, visit the websites of any of the participating schools. You can also visit the ODAC at www.odaconline.com or the NCAA at www.ncaa.com. Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter.