Concordia Captures No. 4 Seed in NAIA National Tournament
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the bracket for the 24th Annual NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship today. The 20-team tournament, hosted by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.), will be held November 14-20 at the Embry-Riddle Soccer Stadium.
The bracket is set by a selection committee composed of the NAIA women's soccer coaches' association officers and the tournament committee.
After a 17-2-1 season highlighted by a perfect 10-0 run in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, Concordia University was selected as the tournament’s No. 4 seed.
“First of all, we are very excited about the opportunity to compete again at the national stage,” Concordia head coach Grant Landy said. “Ultimately, one of our goals this year as a team was to get to Florida, so I am proud this team’s results over the three months which allowed us to get an at-large bid.”
Receiving a first-round bye, the Cavaliers will face the winner of No. 13 Kansas Wesleyan and host Embry Riddle (Fla.), seeded at No. 20, on Thursday, No. 15 at 7 p.m.
“Region I has historically fared extremely well at the tournament,” Landy said. “Hopefully our schedule has prepared us for the type of teams we will face next week.”
Landy, in his 11th season as head coach, has now guided the Cavaliers to seven straight national tournaments, which includes a championship match appearance during the 2004 season. Concordia is led by returning NAIA first-team All-Americans Jackie and Justine Pronovost of Milwaukie, Ore. As a defender, Jackie earned All-America status in each of her first two seasons while Justine was honored as a forward following her sophomore campaign.
Defending champion Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) earned the No. 2 seed in this year's tournament. The Blue Raiders are coming off a defeat to Martin Methodist in the Region XI tournament championship game.
Despite the loss, head coach Drew Burwash believes his team is ready to make another run at the title.
"Even though we have a younger team this season, we competed in one of the toughest regular season schedules in the country," Burwash said. "My hope is that it has prepared us for the tournament which is as deep in terms of talent as it has ever been."
Top seeded Lee (Tenn.) is one of those talented teams ready to dethrone The Blue Raiders. The Lady Flames outscored its opponents 6-1 and cruised to the team's third straight region championship. Since its defeat to Lindsey Wilson on Sept. 15, Lee has rattled off 15 straight victories.
Not to be overlooked, No. 3 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) is another team entering the tournament on a hot streak. Azusa spent much of the 2007 season ranked nationally at No. 2 behind Lee. Despite a scare from California State-San Marcos in the Region II semifinal and a hard fought battle with California Baptist in the championship, the Cougars head to Florida having won 13 straight games.
The 2007 field will have its share of dark horses competing for the crown. Kansas Wesleyan makes an appearance as the No. 13 seed and is the first-ever team from the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference to send a representative to the NAIA Women's Soccer National Tournament. Southern Nazarene (Okla.) had a thrilling postseason-run winning the Region VI tournament as a No. 4 seed. The Crimson Storm is advancing to the national tournament for only the third time in the schools history.