DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced that Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach campus will be the site of the 2007 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship.

The national tournament will take place Nov. 14-20 and will bring over 600 student-athletes and coaches representing 20 NAIA institutions from around the country to the Daytona Beach area.

"We are really excited to have the opportunity to host what we hope will be one of the very best women's soccer national tournaments in the history of the NAIA," Athletic Director Steve Ridder commented. "Having hosted seven national championships since 2002, including the last two men's soccer national tournaments, has shown the officials at the national office that if Embry-Riddle is given a chance to host a national tournament, we are committed to making it a special experience for the student-athletes."

"I think our program, deserves the opportunity to host another national tournament," Ridder added. "I have really enjoyed watching the development of our women's soccer program and the work and commitment that our coaching staff has shown. I think that our former student-athletes in women's soccer can feel very proud that they've had something to do with building a special program and all those things make a difference. When the NAIA selects institutions to host national tournaments, they're not going to give that opportunity to an institution or program that is not run the right way and that has not had success in all areas."

Embry-Riddle invested in a major upgrade to the soccer complex prior to hosting the 2005 men's soccer national tournament and the results were a tremendously positive impact for the event, as well as both of the Eagle soccer programs. The beautiful 1,000-seat stadium, which includes bench-back seating and an adjacent spectator amenities building, is the perfect place to catch all of the action.

The facility's best feature is, arguably, the playing surface. Spearheaded by Southeastern Turf Grass Supply out of Jacksonville, in close cooperation with the Embry-Riddle Grounds Department, the field was renovated in early 2005 with the addition of new sub-surface growing medium that allowed the Bermuda turf to root more deeply and be highly wear-resistant. The surface hosted full regular season home schedules for Embry-Riddle's men's and women's soccer programs, and was in top shape throughout the 19-game national tournaments in 2005 and 2006. Truly one of the premier natural turf soccer complexes in the nation, the venue provides a very safe, more durable field of play and is very fan-friendly.