The Ashland University women's soccer team received an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament, earning the No. 7 seed in the Midwest Region, it was announced on Monday (Nov. 5) evening.
The Eagles (10-4-5) will play No. 2 seed and G-MAC champion Ohio Valley on Thursday (Nov. 8) in Big Rapids, Mich. Kickoff time will be announced later. No. 3 seed and host Ferris State will play No. 6 seed McKendree in the other first round game that day.
It is the first time the AU women's soccer program has qualified for the NCAA Tournament since 2004, and it is just the third time (2001, 2003) the AU men's and women's soccer programs have made it to the national tournament in the same season.
The Eagles started the season with an 11-game unbeaten streak (7-0-4) and advanced to the GLIAC Tournament semifinal after a road win over Michigan Tech. Ashland is the only team to earn a result against No. 1 Grand Valley State, tying the Lakers, 0-0, in September.
Ashland is in its first season under interim head coach Taylor Clarke, who took over the program just a couple weeks before the start of training camp after head coach Danny Krispinsky stepped aside for health reasons in July.
The Eagles have four All-GLIAC players this season, including Goalkeeper of the Year Hannah Lee. Redshirt-junior defender Sydney Wright, freshman midfielder Bella Petrock and freshman defender Tori Baker were also named to the All-GLIAC squads.
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