Nov. 16, 2008

Click here for National Championship Bracket

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has officially released the 30-team field and bracket for the NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship Opening Round, which will be held Nov. 22 at 15 different sites. There will be 15 Opening Round games all across the country. The winners of those 15 Opening Round games, in addition to host school Embry-Riddle (Fla.), will meet at the 25th Annual Women’s Soccer National Championship from Dec. 1-6 in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Of the teams selected, 26 schools were automatic bids (conferences/independents/unaffiliateds) while four programs were at-larges and Embry-Riddle is the National Championship host institution. No. 12 Berry (Ga.) is making its 16th appearance, which is the most of any school in the field. No. 4 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) is making its 11th straight trip and holds 21 wins, both figures mark the most in the field.

No. 1 seed Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) opens up by hosting Siena Heights (Mich.). The Blue Raiders are 18-1 on the season after winning the Mid-South Conference Regular Season Championship and Tournament Championship. LWC is riding a 13-game winning streak and has out-scored the opposition by an 86-3 margin during that stretch, which includes 10 shut outs.

Defending national champion Martin Methodist (Tenn.) is the No. 6 seed and takes on Indiana Wesleyan in Pulaski, Tenn. Last year, the RedHawks won the 2007 National Championship by a score of 2-1 over Azusa Pacific (Calif.). The last No. 1 seed to win the title was MMC back in 2005.

Overall, there are 11 schools that have qualified for the National Championships for the first time in history. Two teams enter the National Championship Opening Round with an undefeated record – No. 5 Concordia (Ore.) and No. 8 Graceland (Iowa).

For National Championship ticket information at Daytona Beach from Dec. 1-6, contact Maryellen Wynn at maryellen.wynn@erau.edu or call (386) 323-5004. For more information on the National Championship Opening Round, click here.

For the official National Championship bracket, click here