Monday, November 6, 2017

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Representing the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in this year’s 2017 Division II Women’s Soccer West Regional Championships are a pair of teams with completely different experiences in NCAA postseason play.

Announced Monday afternoon during the NCAA Selection Show, defending Division II national champion No. 12 Western Washington and No. 17 Concordia will be the two teams lacing up for the NCAA Division II Championships, starting Nov. 9.

No. 2 in the West Region, Western Washington earned a first-round bye and will host the winner of Sonoma State/Cal Baptist at Harington Field on Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. Appearing in their first NCAA tournament, the No.5-seeded Cavaliers take on Chico State (11-5-2) in La Jolla, Calif., at 2 p.m. on Nov. 10.

With their 1-0 double-overtime win against Concordia last Saturday for the GNAC title, the Vikings qualified for their sixth-straight West Regional Tournament. Western Washington leads the league with 13 shutouts and recorded its 11th shutout against GNAC opposition Saturday afternoon. In last year’s postseason, the Vikings outscored its opponents 14-3 en route to the first Division II national championship in program history.

At 17-1 this season, WWU improved to 12-0-0 on the road. The Vikings boast the ninth-best scoring offense in Division II with 2.94 goals per game. They also lead the GNAC and are tied for 13th nationally with 53 goals this season.

Concordia, in its first season as a full Division II member, earns its first-ever NCAA postseason appearance. After a stellar season that saw the Cavaliers capture their first GNAC regular-season title in school history, the Cavs will look to take down two of the best teams in the CCAA.

Concordia went unbeaten in the regular season (15-3-1, 11-0-1 GNAC), outscoring conference opponents 30-2. The Cavs have recorded 11 shutouts this season and are led by the GNAC Player of the Year, midfielder Gabrielle Ewing (eight goals, six assists).

Sonoma State takes on Cal Baptist this Thursday at 1 p.m. at Harrington Field for the right to take on defending Division II national champion Western Washington on Saturday. If the Cavaliers defeat Chico State, they will play the No. 1 seed in the West Region, UC San Diego (15-2-2), on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m.