-2016 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Bracket
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-Tournament Notes
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – In a historic campaign with many first for the No. 18 Kutztown University women's soccer program, the Golden Bears will check off another first on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 9 p.m. ET at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Mo. when they take on No. 1 Western Washington in their first-ever Final Four appearance.
Entering the season, KU (20-4) had one NCAA Tournament win in the history of its program. The Maroon and Gold already have three in 2016, including making their first-ever appearances in both the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight and capturing their first-ever Atlantic Region title.
In the process, Kutztown has set multiple program records, including wins in a season, regular season victories (15) and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) wins (13). The Golden Bears have also tied program records for shutouts in a season (13) and consecutive victories (9).
One of those 13 shutouts came in its last time out on Sunday, Nov. 20 when KU blanked Bridgeport 1-0 in the Elite Eight to become just the fifth team in Kutztown athletics history to reach the Final Four, joining the 1982 and 1997 field hockey teams and the softball teams in 2012 and 2013. It also became just the second PSAC team to advance to the Final Four, joining West Chester in 2006.
KU's 13 shutouts this season leads the PSAC and ranks 11th nationally out of 264 teams, while its .663 goals against average is second and 25th, respectively. The Maroon and Gold are also third in the PSAC and 32nd nationally with a 2.13 scoring average.
Western Washington (22-0-1) is the lone remaining unbeaten team in the NCAA after KU knocked off No. 4 West Chester in the Atlantic Region final. Its lone blemish is a 0-0 tie in its season-opener at No. 21 Sonoma State on Sept. 1, as the Vikings have won 22 in a row.
WWU will enter Thursday on the heels of a 5-1 victory over No. 6 Colorado Mines in the Elite Eight to qualify for its second consecutive Final Four and third in the previous four seasons. The Vikings beat No. 9 UC San Diego 2-1 in overtime in the Sweet 16.
Western Washington boasts a balanced attack that ranks fourth in the NCAA in goals against average (.344) and 15th in scoring offense (2.61). The Vikings have scored multiple goals in 18 of its 23 matches and have shutout 16 opponents, the latter of which is tied for fourth most in the nation.
The winner of Kutztown and Western Washington will face off with the winner of first semifinal, which features a 2015 National Championship rematch between No. 2 Grand Valley State (22-1-1) and No. 5 Columbus State (21-2), in the National Championship on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 4 p.m. ET.
Three-time defending national champion Grand Valley State qualified for its eighth straight Final Four with a 3-1 triumph over No. 3 Central Missouri on Nov. 20. The Lakers have won five of the past seven national championships and have played in the national championship game in six of the last seven years.
GVSU has won 13 in a row, with the last 12 coming by two goals or more, since its lone loss on Oct. 5 against Florida Tech. The Lakers' tie came in its second contest of the season at California State Pomona on Sept. 4.
Grand Valley State leads the NCAA in goals against average (.248) – behind a nation-leading 19 shutouts - and is second in scoring offense (4.04).
Columbus State is the top-scoring team in the NCAA at 4.17 goals per game, having scored three or more goals in 17 of its 23 matches. The Cougars also rank 19th in the nation with a .605 goals against average and tied for ninth with 14 shutouts.
CSU extended its winning streak to 16 in dramatic fashion in the Elite Eight on Nov. 20, upending No. 16 West Florida 2-1 in the double overtime to qualify for the Final Four for the second year in a row. The Cougars last lost 1-0 at UNC Pembroke on Sept. 24.
