Scholastica Men And Women To Face Loras College

Nov 6, 2012

Northland Sports Online

The St. Scholastica men’s and women’s soccer teams will both face Loras College (Iowa) in Dubuque, Iowa in the first round of the NCAA Division III National Tournament with the women playing Friday and the men Saturday; it was announced Monday afternoon.

The men’s soccer team will be making their second NCAA Tournament appearance, with its first coming in 2010. The Saints earned the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference’s (UMAC) automatic qualifier by defeating the University of Minnesota Morris 1-0 on Saturday.

The host Duhawks of Loras College enter the NCAA Tournament with a 19-1-1 record and a perfect 13-0 record at home. The Duhawks defeated Central College (Iowa) 2-1 to win the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s automatic qualifier.

Loras is currently on a 12-game winning streak and are ranked fourth in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III poll.

The other two teams competing at the four-team site are North Park University (Ill.) and Washington University-St. Louis. Loras played Washington University to a scoreless draw earlier this season in the only matchup amongst the four teams this year.

The St. Scholastica women’s soccer team will also face Loras in Dubuque in the first round of the NCAA Division III National Tournament.

The Saints will be making their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last six years. The Saints captured the UMAC automatic qualifier by defeating the University of Minnesota Morris 1-0 in overtime in the UMAC Tournament championship on Saturday.

Loras comes into the NCAA Tournament with a 17-4-0 record and a 10-1 home mark. The Duhawks defeated the University of Dubuque 3-1 to earn the IIAC’s automatic qualifier.

The Duhawks started the season 3-3, but will come into Friday’s NCAA Tournament contest on a 10-game winning streak. Loras is currently ranked 20th in the NSCAA Division III poll.

The other two teams competing at Loras on Friday are Aurora University (Ill.) and Calvin College (Mich.). The women will kickoff play in Dubuque vs. Loras at 5 p.m. Friday. The CSS men will play the Duhawks on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.