Nov. 10, 2008

MILWAUKEE -

2008 NCAA Tournament Bracket in PDF Format

Selection Show Photo Gallery

Podcast with Markus Roeders

For the seventh time in program history, the Marquette women's soccer team is in the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Eagles (11-7-3) will face Minnesota (20-3-0) in the first round at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium in Minneapolis on Friday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m.

The other two teams in the bracket are South Dakota State (14-4-1) and Colorado (14-4-4) who will also play on Friday, Nov. 14, at 3 p.m. The winners of the two first round matches will play Sunday, Nov. 16, at 1 p.m.

Marquette is coming off a regular season in which it went 11-6-3 and finished second in the American Division of the BIG EAST. Marquette advanced to the BIG EAST semifinals where it lost to top-ranked Notre Dame, 2-0. Marquette has won 11 games for the 13th consecutive season and is appearing in its seventh NCAA Tournament. Marquette's attack is led by sophomore forward Ashley Bares, an All-BIG EAST Third Team selection, who is the team leader in scoring with five goals and 12 points. In goal, freshman Natalie Kulla has made 55 saves this season and has a 0.82 goals against average. She registered a career-high nine saves against Notre Dame in the BIG EAST semifinals.

The Golden Eagles, who earned one of 34 at-large bids, are one of four BIG EAST teams to advance to the NCAA Tournament as Notre Dame, West Virginia and Rutgers are also among the 64 teams vying for the National Championship.

The Golden Gophers, who captured a share of the Big Ten regular season title, have won a school record 20 games this season and advanced to the Big Ten Tournament championship game. Lindsey Schwartz leads the team offensively with 20 points on seven goals and six assists. The Golden Gophers offense boasts five players with 10 or more points, while 15 total players have contributed offensively. In goal, Lindsey Dare has seen all 2101:25 in net and has registered 16 shutouts and a 0.43 goals against average.

Minnesota will make its sixth NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 1999. Marquette and Minnesota last met in 1994 where the two teams played to a 0-0 draw in St. Paul.