INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.– Cal Lutheran earned an at-large berth in the 2019 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship and will host UC Santa Cruz in the opening round of the tournament, announced Monday morning by NCAA officials. 

The selection committee announced the field of 64 teams that will compete in the tournament and 43 conferences were awarded automatic qualification. Despite falling in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament Championship to Pomona-Pizer, the Regals were rewarded for their outstanding season.

Ranked number two in the West region behind their conference counterparts, CLU was selected to host after posting an overall record of 12-3-3 (9-3-2 SCIAC). Also traveling to Thousand Oaks, Calif. will be Emory (Ga.) from the South Atlantic region and fellow SCIAC members Claremont-Mudd-Scripps who also earned an at-large berth.

The Regals will take on UC Santa Cruz in the first round of the tournament who come into the matchup with an overall record of 13-3-2. The Banana Slugs earned the Pool B berth, awarded to a team who is not affiliated with a conference.

The winners of each game will meet on Sunday for a chance to punch their ticket in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship. The Regals reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2017 and will hope to return again this weekend.

Cal Lutheran opens their NCAA Tournament campaign Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. when they host UC Santa Cruz at William Rolland Stadium. Emory (Ga.) will then play Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, the two winners will face off at 7 p.m. for a chance to play in the Sweet Sixteen.

NCAA Tournament: Tournament Bracket
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Release by Jeff Rebello, Assistant Sports Information Director