Wildcats are in the fourth seed in the region
MARQUETTE, Mich. – Fate has spoken, and the Wildcats women’s soccer team will be traveling to Ashland, Ohio to face off against the Drury Panthers in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
This marks the fourth time in program history and third-consecutive time under head coach Jon Sandoval that the Wildcats have made the big dance.
The NCAA announced the full field of 56 teams to the national tournament on Monday, November 18. The Midwest Region consists of four teams from the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), Northern Michigan and Grand Valley from the GLIAC, and one from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC).
The Wildcats (14-3-4) earned the #4 seed in the region after winning the GLIAC conference championship, and will embark on its third consecutive NCAA tournament. Drury (14-2-4) enters as the #5 seeded team in the region after earning an at-large bid, as the team fell to McKendree in the GLVC semifinals.
The winner between these two sides will face the #1 seeded Ashland Eagles, who earned a first-round bye after claiming the G-MAC conference title, earning the top spot in the region.
Though this marks the first meeting between the Wildcats and Panthers in program history, the Wildcats are no stranger to Ashland, Ohio, as the Eagles were once a member of the GLIAC. The Wildcats last time in Ashland, Ohio? A 1-0 win for the ‘Cats in the GLIAC semifinals, under first-year head coach Jon Sandoval.
