PREVIEW | Women’s Soccer returns to West Chester to face Fairmont State in NCAA Championship opener

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – After hearing its name during Monday's NCAA Selection show, the third-seeded Kutztown University women's soccer team begins its quest for a title in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regionals against the sixth-seeded Fairmont State Fighting Falcons on Friday, Nov. 21, at 10 a.m. at Rockwell Field in West Chester, Pa.

The Golden Bears (13-5-1, 9-4-1 PSAC East) continue competition in NCAA play after winning a pair of postseason contests against Indiana (Pa.) and Millersville in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships. The brackets pitted the Maroon and Gold against the Fighting Falcons (16-1-3, 10-1-3 Mountain East), a team coming off a win in the Mountain East Conference title game.

The two teams are meeting for the first time in their respective histories. The Golden Bears faced Concord of the Mountain East Conference in its opening game, defeating the Mountain Lions, 4-1. Concord was swept by the Fighting Falcons in a pair of meetings this season, winning 3-2 at Concord in the regular season before pulling off a 2-1 home victory in the MEC Semifinal round.

The Golden Bears feature a trio of All-PSAC performers, with East Defensive Player of the Year Maura Day (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Abington) and forward tandem Corinne Morgan (Port Republic, N.J./Cedar Creek) and Caroline McDonald (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) earning recognition from the conference. The team has also seen stellar performances from its defensive unit, as senior Skyler Jordan (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) and junior keeper Morgan O'Donnell (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) have helped lead Kutztown's defensive unit as they have put together seven shutouts on the year.

The Atlantic Region is led by top-seeded Shepherd, who has a bye in the first round. No. 2 West Chester and No. 3 Kutztown are followed by PSAC foes No. 4 Gannon and No. 5 Bloomsburg. No. 6 Fairmont State and No. 7 West Virginia State of the Mountain East Conference round out the region.

Ticket sales will be cashless and available on site only. Ticket prices will be $13 for adults and $8 for students (K-12/seniors +65). Students from PSAC institutions are free with a valid student ID. Children who have not yet reached kindergarten (Pre-K) are also free.

The livestream and stats links can be found above, along with the NCAA tournament central and more information about the tournament's host, West Chester University.

The matchup between Kutztown and Fairmont State will take place at 10 a.m. on Friday, preceding the other first-round game in the pod that features No. 2 West Chester taking on No. 7 West Virginia State at 1 p.m. The winners of both games will compete on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 1 p.m. for the right to compete in the Atlantic Region Championship.

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Players Mentioned

#19 Maura Day: M/D; 5' 6"; Junior

#13 Skyler Jordan: D/M; 6' 0"; Senior

#11 Caroline McDonald: F; 5' 6"; Senior

#2 Corinne Morgan: F; 5' 1"; Junior

#0 Morgan O'Donnell: GK; 5' 7"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#19 Maura Day
: 5' 6"; Junior
: M/D

#13 Skyler Jordan
: 6' 0"; Senior
: D/M

#11 Caroline McDonald
: 5' 6"; Senior
: F

#2 Corinne Morgan
: 5' 1"; Junior
: F

#0 Morgan O'Donnell
: 5' 7"; Junior
: GK