For Immediate Release
November 10, 2003

Chicago Receives NCAA Division III Tournament Bid

Chicago -- The University of Chicago women's soccer team received an at-large bid to the 2003 NCAA Division III Championship, the NCAA announced Sunday night. Chicago earned a first-round bye and will participate in the Central Regional at Wheaton (Ill.) College on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14-15.

Chicago (14-1-3) will face either Lake Forest College (14-3-1) or Webster University (14-3-2) in regional semifinal play on Friday at 1:30 p.m. Lake Forest and Webster will meet in first-round action on Wednesday, Nov. 12, with the winner advancing to Friday's match with the Maroons.

In Friday's other regional semifinal game at 11:00 a.m., Wheaton (15-2-3) will take on the winner of a Nov. 12 contest between Lakeland College (11-10-0) and Washington (Mo.) University (13-2-3).

Friday's winners will meet for the regional title on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.. The winner of that contest will advance to the national quarterfinals to be held either Saturday, Nov. 22 or Sunday, Nov. 23.

Chicago, which was the runner-up in the University Athletic Association with a 4-1-2 league record, was one of three teams selected to the 45-team tournament from conferences whose champions earn automatic qualification. Washington (Mo.) won the UAA championship with a 5-1-1 conference mark. The Bears defeated Chicago 2-1 in double overtime this past Saturday (Nov. 8) at Stagg Field.

Chicago will compete in the NCAA Division III Championship for the sixth time in the program's history and the second straight year. The Maroons, who reached the national final four in 1996, were eliminated in the regional finals a year ago.

Tournament Bracket