ADVANCE! Women's Soccer Earns an At-Large Bid to the NCAA Tournament; Has Rubber Match with Wilmington
INDIANAPOLIS, IN. – No.11 nationally-ranked Thomas Jefferson University women's soccer awaited their fate on Monday night to see if their season continued with the Rams getting their number called as they will compete in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
Jefferson will head to Manchester, N.H. as the fourth seed, the second straight year the Rams earned that seed, as they play against the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) champion Wilmington University of Delaware on Friday, November 21 at 3 p.m. This will be the third time the Rams and Wildcats go against one another, with the last time going in favor of Wilmington 2-1 in overtime. The winner will take on No.1 seed and host Saint Anselm College on Sunday, November 23.
Jefferson (15-2-1) will be in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth straight season. This is the third instance the Rams have earned an at-large bid. Jefferson is ranked 11th in the country by the United Soccer Coaches committee
Wilmington (12-2-6) makes their second straight trip in the NCAA Tournament and third overall. The Wildcats earn the fifth seed after winning the CACC title over Caldwell last Saturday. Wilmington holds a 1-0-1 record against Jefferson this season.
Saint Anselm (10-2-5) earn the top-seed in the NCAA Tournament East Region as they won the NE10 title over Franklin Pierce in penalty kicks. This is the third NCAA appearance for the Hawks, making the tournament in 2021 and 2022. Saint Anselm went against Jefferson at Wilmington on September 14, with the Rams defeating the Hawks 2-0.
On the other side of the bracket, No.2 seed Franklin Pierce will be the host team as they earn a bye while being the neutral site for No.3 seeded Mercy University and No.6 seeded Roberts Wesleyan University. The Ravens jumped to the second seed after falling in the NE10 title game in penalty kicks to Saint Anselm. The Mavericks fall to the third seed and while the Redhawks won the ECC and make their way to the tournament. Mercy and Roberts Wesleyan will have a ECC Finals rematch with the winner taking on Franklin Pierce in the second round.
