SEATTLE -- The defending national champion Seattle Pacific women's soccer team will begin its title defense on the road.
The Great Northwest Athletic Conference champion Falcons (16-3-1) received the West Region's No. 3 seed into the 48-team NCAA Division II Tournament field that was announced Monday. This marks the seventh straight playoff berth for SPU, which has a 12-5-2 record in all-time postseason games.
The Falcons travel to La Jolla, Calif. for a first-round clash against No. 6 seed Chico State (8-5-8) on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. That game will be hosted at Triton Stadium by No. 2 seed UC San Diego (14-5-1), which plays the winner on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.
SPU defeated the Wildcats 1-0 on Sept. 8 in Chico, Calif. on a 79th-minute penalty kick by freshman
Taylor Sawyer (Gig Harbor, Wash./North Mason HS).
California Collegiate Athletic Association champion Cal State L.A. (17-2-2) drew the top seed in the West Region and will host a second-round game against the first-round winner between No. 4 Cal State Dominguez Hills (13-8-1) and No. 5 Dixie State (14-4).
The two winning teams from the West Region will meet at the site of the higher seed for a third-round clash on Nov. 19 with the victor advancing to the Nov. 21 quarterfinals.
The 2009 semifinals and championship game are scheduled for Dec. 3 and 5 at Pepin Stadium in Tampa, Fla., which is the same venue where Seattle Pacific captured the 2008 title with a 1-0 double-overtime triumph over West Florida.
Janae Godoy (Yakima, Wash./West Valley HS) netted a golden goal in the 108th minute to give the Falcons the championship.
“We're definitely a team that has gotten things done recently and I'm excited about what this team brings to the tournament,” said Coach
Chuck Sekyra, who directed the Falcons into the playoffs in each of his seven seasons.
“We are a seasoned team that has been there before. I look forward to us competing and seeing if we can go as far as last year.”
The SPU women have advanced to the Final Four on three occasions, including 2005 when they reached the championship game.
This year's Falcons won their sixth GNAC championship with a 9-2-1 league ledger.
SPU senior forward
Jocelyn Charette (Lakewood, Wash./Curtis HS) leads all conference players with 37 points on 15 goals and seven assists. A solid defense helped the Falcons outscore opponents by a commanding 50-11 margin.
During last year's title run, the Falcons had the benefit of an opening-round bye and the home field advantage for a 3-1 victory over UC San Diego in the second round. They will play away from home for at least the first two rounds.
“Going on the road presents a little more of a challenge perhaps, but I think we're up for it,” Sekyra said. “We've played some great games on the road this year and San Diego's field is no stranger to us. We've been there before and it's a beautiful place. If we can't be at home, what better place to be than San Diego?”
2009 NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT PAIRINGS
(* host school)
Atlantic Region (Nov. 13 & 15)
Indiana, Pa. (13-6-1) vs. Gannon (10-7-1)
winner vs. West Chester* (19-1-1)
California, Pa. (16-5-1) vs. West Virginia Wesleyan (13-6-1)
Winner vs. Kutztown* (15-5-2)
Central Region (Nov. 13 & 15)
Minnesota Duluth (16-2-2) vs. Minnesota State Mankato (13-4-2)
winner vs. Metro State* (20-1-1)
Colorado School of Mines (17-4-0) vs. Regis (Colorado) (14-4-4)
winner vs. Fort Lewis* (18-2-3)
East Region (Nov. 13 & 15)
Massachusetts-Lowell (12-5-3) vs. Merrimack (13-5-3)
winner vs. Saint Rose* (21-0-0)
Franklin Pierce (16-4-1) vs. Holy Family (13-8-1)
winner vs. Bridgeport* (16-1-3)
Midwest Region (Nov. 13 & 15)
Bellarmine (13-3-1) vs. Indianapolis (15-5-0)
winner vs. Grand Valley State* (19-0-2)
Quincy (14-5-1) vs. Saginaw Valley State (14-3-2)
winner vs. Northern Kentucky* (18-2-0)
South Region (Nov. 13 & 15)
Florida Southern (12-7-1) vs. North Alabama (18-3-1)
winner vs. West Florida* (19-0-0)
Florida Tech (14-3-1) vs. Saint Leo (9-5-1)
winner vs. Rollins* (15-1-2)
South Central Region (Nov. 13 & 15)
Truman (14-3-3) vs. Nebraska-Omaha (13-5-2)
winner vs. West Texas A&M* (14-2-3)
St. Edward's (15-3-1) vs. Central Oklahoma (14-6-2)
winner vs. Incarnate Word (15-2-3)
Southeast Region (Nov. 13 & 15)
Newberry (13-4-2) vs. Tusculum (14-4-3)
winner vs. Carson-Newman* (18-2-1)
Armstrong Atlantic State (15-3-3) vs. Belmont Abbey (14-5-0)
winner vs. Columbus State* (15-2-3)
West Region (Nov. 12 & 14)
Seattle Pacific (16-3-1) vs. Cal State Chico (8-5-8)
winner vs. UC San Diego* (14-5-1)
Games will be played Nov. 13 & 15
Dixie State (14-4-0) vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (13-8-1)
winner vs. Cal State L.A.* (17-2-2)
