CHICAGO -- The 4th-ranked University of Chicago women's soccer team will return to its home field to host the Sectional round of the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament this weekend. The Maroons will face #17 Cal Lutheran in the Sectional Semifinal at 11 AM CT.

#4 UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO NOTES:

* The Maroons entered the NCAA Tournament as the #4 seed after finishing the regular season with a 12-2-3 overall record.
* UChicago picked up a 5-0 win over UW-Superior and a 3-1 win over UW-La Crosse in the opening two rounds of the NCAA Tournament last weekend in Chicago.
* Indira Naylor was the hero in the opening round as the sophomore doubled her season output with four goals and two assists in the two wins.
* The Maroons are making their 11th NCAA Tournament appearance in the past 12 years. The Maroons hold a 21-10-2 record in those 11 tournaments, and they have reached the Sectional round in five of the past seven tournaments.
* The 11-0-2 start to the season was the longest unbeaten start to a year for a UChicago team since they started the 2017 season with a 17-0 record.
* Mary Stuart Kerrigan and Indira Naylor lead the Maroons with eight goals on the season.
* Annabel Edwards has had a breakout freshman season with a team-high six assists and one goal for UChicago.
* Amy Reifert has recorded 446 wins in her illustrious career. She sits sixth all-time in career Division III wins and 21st all-time among all levels of the NCAA.
* With a win, the Maroons would advance to the Sectional Finals where they would meet the winner of #13 Swarthmore and Carleton.

#17 CAL LUTHERAN NOTES:

* Cal Lutheran enters the weekend with a 17-3-2 record overall on the season.
* The Regals opened their postseason run with a 3-0 win over McMurry and a 2-1 win over the hosts, Trinity (TX), in the Regional Finals.
* Cal Lutheran is making their third consecutive and 17th overall NCAA Tournament appearance.
* The Regals are making their second Sectional appearance in the past three seasons after winning the 2023 National Championship two years ago.
* Olivia Suarez leads the team with six goals and three assists. The senior has recorded a team-high 15 points this season.
* Stephenie Hackett was named SCIAC Newcomer of the Year after the conclusion of the Regals conference season. In her first collegiate season, the Nevada native has scored four goals this season, including one in the tournament opener against McMurry.
* Goalkeeper Kelsey Slaugh has been fantastic for Cal Lutheran. The senior has recorded 61 saves in 21 games.

SERIES HISTORY:

* This will be the first time in program history the Maroons have matched up with the Regals.
* UChicago has an all-time record of 5-3-1 against teams in the SCIAC.

NCAA DIVISION III HYDE PARK SECTIONAL SCHEDULE:

* Saturday, November 22 - 11 AM - #7 UChicago vs #17 Cal Lutheran
* Saturday, November 22 - 1:30 PM - #13 Swarthmore vs Carleton
* Sunday, November 23 - 1 PM – Winner of Game 1 vs Winner of Game 2