Hawks to Face Rutgers in NCAA Tournament

The University of Hartford women’s soccer team will face third-seeded Rutgers in the first round of the 2006 NCAA Women’s College Cup. The game will take place on Friday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m., in Piscataway, N.J.

The Hawks won the 2006 America East Championship with a 1-0 victory over Maine on Saturday, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. It was Hartford’s first America East Championship since 2002 and its seventh overall. The Hawks have been undefeated in their last 10 games (8-0-2) and have won four straight.

Hartford will be making its 13th NCAA appearance in women’s soccer, tying for 12th on the list of most appearances by a single school. The Hawks (10-8-2 overall) will be one of two schools representing the America East in the tournament (the other is Boston University).

“We’re excited to be in this position and play a quality team like Rutgers,” said Head Coach John Natale. “We’re going to come out and continue to do the things that have made us successful this year. I expect my team will play hard and leave everything on the field.”

Sixty-four teams take part in the NCAA women’s soccer tournament, but only the top 16 are seeded.

Rutgers (15-3-3 overall), ranked 20th in the most recent NSCAA National Poll, advanced to the finals of the Big East Championship this past weekend before losing 4-2 to top-ranked and undefeated Notre Dame.

Boston College (11-6-2 overall) and Boston University (13-4-3 overall) will square off in Friday’s other first-round match-up in Piscataway. The winners of each contest will meet in the second round on Sunday, Nov. 12.

See the complete tournament bracket.

For tickets to Friday’s match, contact the Rutgers Ticket Office toll-free at 1-866-445-GORU (4678) or tickets@scarletknights.com.

For more information on Hartford women’s soccer, visit www.HartfordHawks.com.