ECC Champions Women's Soccer Set To Face Caldwell In First Round Of 2013 NCAA Division II Championship

Indianapolis, Indiana –The University of Bridgeport women's soccer team, under the direction of fifteenth-year head coach Magnus Nilerud, will face the Caldwell College Cougars at American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts in the first round of the 2013 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship Tournament on Friday, November 15.  The Purple Knights, the 2013 East Coast Conference Champions, are the number three seed in the East Region, and Caldwell, the 2013 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Champion, is the number six seed.  Friday's winner will face American International College, the number two seed in the East, on the Yellow Jackets home field on Sunday, November 17. Bridgeport enters Friday's action at 17-2-0 overall, and the Cougars are 13-5-2 overall.  AIC comes in to the 2013 NCAA Championship with a 15-2-2 overall mark.

This year's NCAA trip is Bridgeport's sixth in the last seven seasons, as UB made five consecutive NCAA appearances from 2007 through 2011.

In 2011, Bridgeport played UMass Lowell to a 1-1 tie in the second round but did not advance after a penalty kick shootout.  The Purple Knights received a first round bye two seasons ago.

In 2010, UB advanced to the second round defeating Franklin Pierce in round one, 3-1, and losing to the College of St. Rose, 1-0, on the Golden Knights' home field.  In 2009, Bridgeport fell to Franklin Pierce, 4-1, in the second round after receiving a first round bye. In 2008, the Purple Knights moved into the Round of 16 posting wins over Merrimack (1-0) and C.W. Post (1-0), before falling to the College of St. Rose, 3-1.  2007, UB made its first-ever NCAA Championship appearance and did not advance to the second round on penalty kicks versus Dowling. 

The other side of the East Region bracket will be hosted by number one seed, the College of St. Rose. The Golden Knights are 19-0-2 so far in 2013, and they will host, on Sunday, the winner of Friday's match between number four seed Adelphi University (13-2-4) and number five seed, Mercy College (13-4-1).

2013 NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP

EAST REGIONAL

FIRST AND SECOND ROUNDS HOSTED BY AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE-SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHSETTS

First Round-Friday, November 15, 2013

1:00 p.m.-Caldwell (13-5-2) vs. Bridgeport (17-2-0)

Second Round-Sunday, November 17, 2013

1:00 p.m.-Caldwell/Bridgeport winner vs. American International College (15-2-3)

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE 2013 NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN'S SOCCER CAHMPIONSHIP BRACKET