UB Women's Soccer Set To Host 2016 NCAA Championship First & Second Round Matches

Indianapolis, Indiana –The University of Bridgeport women's soccer team, under the direction of eighteenth-year head coach Magnus Nilerud will serve as the host for the first and second round matches in the 2016 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship at Knights Field on Friday, November 11 and Sunday November 13.  Bridgeport is the number one seed in the six-team East Region, and the team receives a bye into Sunday's second round match beginning at 12:00 p.m.  UB will face the winner of Friday's first round match, which will begin at 1:00 p.m., between number four seed, Stonehill College, and number five seed, American International College.

This year marks the fourth time in school history that the Purple Knights have hosted NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship Tournament First and Second Round matches.  Bridgeport also served as hosts in 2009, 2011 and 2015.

This year's NCAA trip is Bridgeport's ninth in the last 10 seasons.  UB has advanced to the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament every season since the program's first appearance in 2007 with the exception of 2012.  UB earned the automatic bid from the East Coast Conference on Friday afternoon when the Purple Knights blanked LIU Post, 2-0, at Knights Field in the ECC Championship Tournament match.

Last season, the Bridgeport women's soccer program made the deepest NCAA Tournament run in school history winning the 2015 East Regional title and advancing to the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship Semifinals in Pensacola, Florida.  After receiving a First Round bye, the Purple Knights defeated LIU Post, 1-0, in the second round, Adelphi, 2-1, in the East Regional Final and East Stroudsburg, 2-0, in the National Quarterfinals before falling to Columbus (Ga.) State, 3-1, in the national semifinals.

Two years ago, the Purple Knights defeated Philadelphia University, 2-0, in round one and fell to the host Mercy College Mavericks, 2-1, in the second round.

In 2013, UB defeated Caldwell, 1-0, in the first round of the NCAA Championship and fell to eventual Final Four team, American International, 2-0, in the second round.

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 in that NCAA Championship.

In 2010, UB advanced to the second round defeating Franklin Pierce in round one, 3-1, and lost 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.  In 2007, UB made its first-ever NCAA Championship appearance and did not advance to the second round on penalty kicks versus Dowling. 

Bridgeport heads into this NCAA Tournament with a 16-3-0 overall record, as the Purple Knights won both the East Coast Conference regular season and championship tournament titles for the second consecutive season.  UB is also on a 13-match winning entering NCAA play.

Stonehill College, located in Easton, Mass., enters the NCAA Tournament with a 15-5-1 overall mark. The Skyhawks, also members of the Northeast-10 Conference won the NE-10 Championship Tournament title on Sunday with a 2-1 home victory over Pace University after topping The College of St. Rose, 2-0, at home in the tournament quarterfinals and defeating regular season champions, Adelphi University, 1-0, on the road in the NE-10 semifinals.  This will be the first-ever NCAA Championship appearance for the Stonehill women's soccer program.  During the 2016 regular season, the Skyhawks fell at American International, 1-0, on October 10th.  Bridgeport and Stonehill did not play this season.  The last meeting between the two teams came during the 2014 season when the Purple Knights won in Easton, 1-0.

American International College, located in Springfield, Mass. and also a member of the Northeast-10 Conference, comes into NCAA play with an 11-7-1 overall record. The Yellow Jackets will be making their fifth overall NCAA Tournament appearance.  During the regular season, AIC lost 1-0 to Bridgeport in the season opener for both teams played at Southern Connecticut State.

The other side of the East Region bracket will be hosted by number two seed, Adelphi University. The Panthers are 15-3-1 so far in 2065, and they will host, on Sunday, the winner of Friday's match between number three seed, LIU Post (N.Y.) (14-3-2) and number six seed, Caldwell (N.J.) University (12-7-2).

2016 NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP

FIRST AND SECOND ROUNDS HOSTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT

First Round-Friday, November 11, 2016

1:00 p.m.-American International (11-7-1) vs. Stonehill (15-5-1)

Second Round-Sunday, November 13, 2016

12:00 p.m.-AIC/Stonehill winner vs. Bridgeport (16-3-0)

Ticket prices are:

Adults: $5.00 | Students with I.D./Senior Citizens: $3.00 | Children, ages 2-12: $2.00
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

NCAA FIRST & SECOND ROUND TOURNAMENT CENTRAL