November 12, 2008

NEWMAC Teams Set to Compete in Post-Season Play

Babson Park, Mass. - Following a thrilling weekend of NEWMAC tournament competition, a number of conference teams qualified for NCAA post-season play this week. In addition to the teams that received automatic bids by winning their NEWMAC championships, four more teams received at-large berths into NCAA tournaments.

In men's soccer, an astounding three teams qualified for the Division III NCAA tournament. After winning the NEWMAC championship on Sunday, Babson earned the right to host first and second round games at Hartwell-Rogers Field this weekend. The Beavers welcome Rhode Island College on Saturday, November 15 at 11:00 a.m. Stevens Institute of Technology and RPI will take part in the second game of the day. Babson will then host a second round game between Saturday's winners, the following day at 1:00 p.m. Additionally, MIT and Clark received at-large bids to the tournament. MIT will travel to Amherst to take on Liberty League champion, St. Lawrence University on Saturday, also at 11:00 a.m. Clark will square off against Norwich at Middlebury College. The Cougars' game time is 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. The winners of the first round games advance to the second round on Sunday.

The NEWMAC also received a pair of NCAA bids in women's soccer. As at-large selection, Wheaton joined NEWMAC tournament champion Springfield in the regionals. The Pride will host Union College at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. Amherst and SUNY-Farmingdale face off the first game of the day. Saturday's winners will play Sunday in the regional final at 1:00 p.m. Wheaton travels to Glassboro, N.J. on Saturday to play Eastern University at 11:00 a.m. Should the Lyons get by Eastern, they would earn a date with either the hosts, Rowan University, or Oneonta State College on Sunday.

Just a few days removed from their thrilling, five-game, NEWMAC championship match, Springfield and Wellesley will both be a part of the NCAA regional, hosted by Tufts University. First round matches will be held on Thursday, November 13. As the top seed in the region Springfield draws No. 8 seed Maine Maritime at 3:30 p.m. Wellesley will look to get by Endicott College at 6:00 p.m. The regional champion will advance to the national quarterfinals at Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington, Ill. the following week.

Springfield is the lone NEWMAC representative in the Division III NCAA field hockey tournament. The Pride will host Keene St. in a first round game on Wednesday, November 12 at 6:00 p.m. If Springfield is able to avenge their 2-1 loss to Keene St. from earlier this season, they will earn a date with Tufts on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.

In addition to the NEWMAC teams competing in the NCAA tournaments, two squads will take part in ECAC championships. Coming off their best regular season in 15 years, the Babson women's volleyball team will compete in post-season play for the first time in program history. The Beavers are the fifth seed in the ECAC New England Volleyball tournament and will host fourth-seeded University of New England on Wednesday, November 12 at 7:00 p.m. The Coast Guard men's soccer will take part in the ECAC New England tournament for the third year in a row. The Bears earned the tournament's No. 3 seed and welcome St. Joseph's (Maine) in a first-round match-up on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.