Titans Draw Ohio Wesleyan University In NCAA Tournament Opener

UW-Oshkosh makes its second appearance in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Women's Soccer Championship when it matches up with Ohio Wesleyan University on Saturday (Nov. 12) in St. Louis, Mo. The first round contest is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Francis Field.

UW-Oshkosh (12-6-3) earned an automatic berth into the 64-team championship after winning the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament on Nov. 5 in Whitewater. Following a 1-1 tie after regulation and two overtime periods, fourth-seeded UW-Oshkosh rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the penalty kick shootout to defeat top-seeded UW-Whitewater (13-4-2), 4-3, in the championship match. The Titans, who shared third place in the WIAC's regular-season standings with UW-Stout, were a participant in the 2006 NCAA Division III Championship.

Ohio Wesleyan University (12-4-4) clinched an automatic bid with its victory in the championship game of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Tournament. The Battling Bishops prevailed over Allegheny College (Pa.) by a 1-0 score in the title match. Ohio Wesleyan University and Allegheny College shared the NCAC title during the regular season.

Ohio Wesleyan University, which captured national titles in both 2001 and 2002, is making its 10th appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship. Since 1998, the Battling Bishops have gone 198-56-25 with seven trips to the NCAA's postseason gala. Ohio Wesleyan University has allowed just one goal while going 4-0-2 in its last six matches.

Joining these schools in the four-team St. Louis Regional are Thomas More College (Ky.) and host Washington University (Mo.). Thomas More College (12-4-1) and 12th-ranked Washington University (15-4) will meet at 5 p.m. on Saturday, with the winner facing the UW-Oshkosh/Ohio Wesleyan University victor at 5 p.m. on Sunday (Nov. 13) in the regional final.

Thomas More College captured the automatic bid from the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) with a 3-0 tournament victory over Waynesburg University (Pa.) in the championship match. The Saints, who finished second in the PAC's regular-season standings, are making their second appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship. Washington University received one of 22 at-large invitations to the NCAA Division III Championship after placing second in the University Athletic Association. The Bears are appearing in their 11th NCAA postseason tournament.

The St. Louis Regional winner will join 15 other regional champions in the sectionals on Nov. 18-20. The semifinals and final will take place on Dec. 2-3 in San Antonio, Texas. Hardin-Simmons University (Texas) is the defending NCAA Division III champion.