Women's Soccer Returns To Regional Rankings

Wildcats Remain In Contention For NCAA Tournament Berth Despite Missing Conference Tourney

11/13/2019 4:06:00 PM

By: By Mike Miranto, Sr. Associate A.D. for External Operations & Communications

AMHERST, N.Y. - The 2019 season may not be over just yet for the Daemen College women's soccer team. The Wildcats, who were eliminated from contention for an East Coast Conference Championships berth on the final day of the regular season, remain in play for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as they returned to the official East Region rankings today at No. 8.

At-large bids are awarded by using the rankings established by Regional Advisory Committees from the various regions around the country. The full 56-team field for the NCAA tournament is set to be announced Monday, November 18 in a live selection show broadcast on NCAA.com. The field will include eight participating teams from the East Region: conference tournament champions from the East Coast Conference, Northeast-10 Conference and Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (automatic qualifiers), as well as five at-large teams.

Daemen debuted in the regional rankings two weeks ago at No. 10 - the first time the program had been included since transitioning to Division II - but dropped out last week despite wins over Clarion University (Oct. 29) and Lincoln University (Nov. 2). A 2-1 road win in their regular-season finale vs. St. Thomas Aquinas College this past weekend has vaulted the Wildcats back into contention. They ended the regular season with an 11-3-3 record and a 9-3-2 mark against in-region opponents. Two of Daemen's three losses this season have come against teams included in the top three of the regional rankings - a 2-1 setback at No. 3 Molloy College on Oct. 14 and a 3-1 defeat at No. 1 College of St. Rose on Oct. 19. The Wildcats also own a 1-0 win over No. 2 Mercy College from Sept. 28.

NE-10 teams from Stonehill College (No. 4), Bentley University (No. 5) and Southern New Hampshire University (No. 7), as well as the lone ranked team from the CACC, Jefferson University (No. 7), round out the teams ranked ahead of Daemen. The Wildcats will be pulling for either Mercy or Molloy to the win the ECC title, any of the four NE-10 teams ahead of them to win their conference tournament title, and of course Jefferson to win the CACC crown. Any teams ranked below Daemen or not at all that go on to win their conference tournament could potentially knock Daemen out of a bid.

To follow the ECC Championships, CLICK HERE. To follow the NE-10 Championships, CLICK HERE. To follow the CACC Championships, CLICK HERE. To track all automatic bids via NCAA.com, CLICK HERE.

Stay tuned to daemenwildcats.com for information leading up to the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championships Selection Show.

NCAA DIVISION II EAST REGION RANKINGS - NOV. 13, 2019
1. St. Rose (15-2-1)
2. Mercy (13-2-2)
3. Molloy (13-4-1)
4. Stonehill (11-4-4)
5. Bentley (10-6-2)
6. Southern New Hampshire (10-6-1)
7. Jefferson (12-5-0)
8. DAEMEN (11-3-3)
9. Adelphi (9-5-3)
10. Southern Connecticut State (9-6-4)

Daemen College features the only NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

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