Nov 10, 2003
Women's Soccer Secures Third-Straight NCAA Division II Tournament Berth; Will travel to Nebraska-Omaha
NCAA Division II Central Region tournament - First & Second Round
Participants:
No. 1 Seed - University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux (North Central Conference)
No. 2 Seed-Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks (North Central Conference)
No. 3 Seed-Truman State University Bulldogs (Mid-America Intercollegiate
Athletics Association)
No. 4 Seed - Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks (North Central
Conference)
Tournament Location: Omaha, Neb., Soccer Field at Ak-Sar-Ben
Tournament Schedule:
Friday, 11 a.m. - No. 1 North Dakota vs. No. 4 Minnesota State, Mankato
Friday, 1:30 p.m. - No. 2 Nebraska-Omaha vs. No. 3 Truman
Sunday, Noon - Regional Championship
No. 8 Truman (18-1-1 overall, 14-0-0 MIAA-Champion): The Bulldogs are making their third-straight trip to the NCAA tournament and will be heading to No. 2 seed Nebraska-Omaha for a first-round game on Friday at 1:30 p.m.
No. 1 seed North Dakota will face Minnesota State, Mankato in the other first-round contest on Friday at 11 a.m.
The Truman side claimed its fifth straight MIAA crown last week and finished a perfect conference slate on Saturday with a 3-0 win over Missouri Southern in Kirksville.
Truman in NCAA Postseason action: Truman has extended its season by two games the last two years, garnering NCAA berths both seasons.
In 2001, the Bulldogs were the No. 1 seed in the Central region and received a first-round bye. They beat Northern Colorado 1-0 on a goal by Anna Sonderman in the second-round game in Kirksville, but lost to Northern Kentucky 2-0 in the quarterfinal contest at the Truman Soccer Park.
Last year, Truman was the No. 3 seed in the region and again knocked off Northern Colorado. This time the 'Dogs had to travel to Colorado for the 1-0 win on a goal by Ellen Wright. The Bulldogs lost their second-round game at eventual national runnerup Nebraska-Omaha, 3-0.
Truman's first postseason outing was in 1997 when it beat St. Joseph's 1-0 in Rensselaer, Ind., in the first round and lost 1-0 at West Virginia Wesleyan in the next game.
The NCAA Division II women's soccer championship provides for a 32-team, single-elimination tournament. Four teams established by the women's soccer committee are chosen from eight regions. For first- and second-round competition, teams will be paired in their respective regions with the No. 1 seed playing the No. 4 seed; and No. 2 seed playing the No. 3 seed on Friday, Nov. 14. The winners of each game will advance to play one another on Sunday, Nov. 16. First- and second-round games will be played at the same site. The winner in each region advances to the quarterfinals to be played on either Saturday, Nov. 22 or Sunday, Nov. 23.
Series Records: Truman lost to Nebraska-Omaha 2-0 on Sept. 6 this year, and met twice last season with both matches ending in 3-0 losses for the Bulldogs, first on Sept. 8 and then on Nov. 16 in the second round of NCAA DII tournament. The 'Dogs have registered just one win in the six-game series with the Mavericks, picking up that victory by a 1-0 score on Sept. 16, 2001. Sara Murray scored for Truman in that game.
The Bulldogs beat Minnesota State, Mankato, 2-0 on Sept. 6 this season. In 2002, MSUM handed the Bulldogs a loss in Mankato by a 1-0 score. However the 'Dogs beat MSUM 3-2 in game No. 2 of the 2001 campaign. Murray, Ellen Wright and Anna Smith put the ball in the net for Truman in that game. The Bulldogs hold a 4-2 margin over the MSUM Mavericks in the all-time series.
Last year, North Dakota and Truman met for the first time ever in the 'Dogs' season-opener. In that game, the Bulldogs beat UND 2-1 in Fargo. Ellen Wright and Becky Ojile scored for Truman. North Dakota was scheduled to appear in Kirksville in the Truman Classic on Aug. 31 this year, but the game was cancelled due to severe rain.