Women's Soccer Heads to West Chester University To Continue NCAA Tournament Play On Friday Versus Adelphi

Bridgeport, Conn.–For the third time in program history, the University of Bridgeport women's soccer team, under the direction of eighteenth-year head coach Magnus Nilerud have reached the Third Round of the NCAA Division II Championship.  The Purple Knights are one of the final 16 teams left standing in the nation after Sunday's 3-2 win over American International College in the 2016 NCAA Division II Championship Second Round.  Top-seeded UB will face number two seed Adelphi University in the NCAA Third Round for the second straight season.  This weekend's matches will be hosted by West Chester (Pa.) University, the highest remaining seed in the Atlantic Region.

Last year, Bridgeport defeated Adelphi, 2-1, at home to capture the 2015 NCAA Division II East Regional title and then blanked East Stroudsburg, 2-0, to advance to the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer National Championship Semifinals for the first time in program history.

The Purple Knights' other trip to the Round of 16 came in 2008 when the team posted wins over Merrimack (1-0) and C.W. Post (1-0), before falling to the College of St. Rose, 3-1 in a match that was played at West Chester. 

Friday's matches at WCU's Rockwell Field will be Regional Championship tilts.  At 11:00 a.m., two teams from the Atlantic Region, both members of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference will square off in the number one seed and host, Golden Rams of West Chester University (19-0-1) and the number two seed, Golden Bears of Kutztown University (18-4-0). Bridgeport will then face the Panthers of Adelphi University (16-3-1), the number two seed in the East Region at 1:30 p.m. 

Both West Chester and Kutztown, along with Bridgeport and Adelphi, received byes in the NCAA First Round and won home matches in the Second Round. As West Chester topped East Stroudsburg, 2-1, and Kutztown shutout Charleston (W.Va.), 1-0.  Adelphi defeated LIU Post, 2-1.

West Chester University, located in West Chester, Pa., heads into Friday's action with an undefeated 19-0-1 record.  The Golden Rams entered this season's NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship as the number one seed in the Atlantic Region. WCU is ranked number four in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA).  This is West Chester's fourteenth straight appearance in the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship.  During the regular season, the Golden Rams defeated Kutztown, 3-1, on the road on September 13.

Kutztown University, located in Kutztown, Pa., comes into Friday's play with an 18-4-0 overall record. The Golden Bears, who are ranked number 18 in the nation by the NSCAA.  This season marks the team's first ever appearance in the NCAA Round of 16, and the program has made NCAA trips in six of the last eight seasons.

The Panthers of Adelphi University hail from Garden City, N.Y.  The number two seed in the East Region, Adelphi is ranked number nine in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in their poll released on November 7.  During the regular season, the Panthers posted a 1-0 home win over Bridgeport early in the year on September 7.  This season marks Adelphi's fourteenth overall NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship appearance. AU heads into play on Friday at 16-3-1 overall. 

Making the program's ninth overall NCAA appearance, all coming in the last 10 years, the East Region top-seed, Purple Knights of the University of Bridgeport check in at number seven in the nation the NSCAA National Poll released on November 9.  UB, winners of the 2015 East Coast Conference regular season and conference tournament crowns, are 17-3-0 overall and have won 14 consecutive matches. 

2016 NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP

Friday, November 18, 2016  

Game #1   11:00 a.m.  NCAA Third Round - #2 Kutztown University vs. #1 West Chester University

Game #2     1:30pm   NCAA Third Round - #1 University of Bridgeport  vs. #2 Adelphi U.

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Game #3  12:00 p.m.     NCAA Quarterfinals - Winner of Game #1 vs.  Winner of Game #2

Ticket prices are:

Adults: $7.00 | Students with I.D./Senior Citizens: $3.00 | Children, ages 2-12: $1.00
Children under the age of 2 shall be admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE 2016 NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET