Webster Faces Familiar Face Chicago In Opening Round

Webster Faces Familiar Face Chicago In Opening Round

Webster University will face a familiar post-season opponent in the University of Chicago in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship. Webster takes on Chicago in the opening of the 2016 tournament on Saturday, November 12 at 11 a.m. Chicago is also serving as the host for the regional, with the other semi-final game between Augsburg and MSOE being played at 1:30 p.m. The winner of the two regional semifinals will play each other on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Webster is 13-7 overall and have won six straight after winning the SLIAC Tournament. They are averaging 3.6 goals per game this season and are led by Allison Ferguson with 12 goals and two assists. Defensively the Gorloks have allowed just 22 goals this year while recording seven shutouts.

Chicago is 15-3 overall this year and nationally ranked. They have lost their last two games, both 1-0 decisions in overtime. The Maroons are averaging 2.78 goals per game and have allowed just seven goals all season long. Jenna McKinney is their top scorer with 13 goals and six assists.

This will be the third time that Webster and Chicago programs have squared off in the Division III championship. Chicago won the first meeting 3-0 back in 2003 and won 1-0 in 2014.

Forty-three conferences were awarded automatic qualification for the 2016 championship.  One team was selected from Pool B, which consists of independent institutions, as well as members of conferences that do not meet the requirements for automatic qualification.  The final 20 berths were reserved for Pool C, which includes institutions from automatic-qualifying conferences that did not win their conference championship and any remaining Pool B teams.

Sixteen four-team sites will conduct first- and second-round play on the first weekend of the championship, November 11 and 12 or 12 and 13.  Second-round winners will advance to one of four sectional sites November 18 and 19 or 19 and 20.  All games, except the semifinals and final, will be played on the campuses of competing institutions.  Winners of the four sectionals will advance to the semifinals December 2 and 3, at Kerr Stadium in Salem, Virginia, with Roanoke College, the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and the City of Salem serving as hosts.