The number-one nationally ranked Misericordia University women's soccer team will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament, Saturday and Sunday at Mangelsdorf Field.
 
The Cougars will face Marywood in the opening round, Saturday at 5:00 p.m.  York and Western New England will play at 7:30.  The winners will meet Sunday at 5:00 for the right to advance to the Sweet 16.
 
Misericordia is 18-0-1 and is making its 14^th NCAA Tournament appearance after winning its eighth MAC Freedom championship. 
 
The Cougars are ranked second in the nation with 89 goals had 11 players named to the All-MAC Freedom team, including Offensive Player of the Year Emma Sweitzer, Defensive Player of the Year Michaela Fasolino and Rookie of the Year Brenna Field.  Head Coach Mark Stauffer was named MAC Freedom Coach of the Year.
 
Sweitzer, a junior forward, led the team with 23 goals and 16 assists and broke her own school single-season scoring record with 62 points.  She ranks fourth in school history with 120 points and needs just six points to become MU's all-time leading scorer.
 
Fasolino is a two-way player out of the midfield and ranked second on the team with 45 points on 19 goals and seven assists.
 
She had eight multi-goal games, including two goals each in the MAC Freedom semifinals and finals.
 
Sabrina Competiello provided eight goals and five assists as one of the first reserves in the forward role and Colleen Kinsella had six goals and nine assists after stepping into the starting line-up.
 
Graduate student Kaylee Sturans, a four-time first-team all-conference selection, adds four goals and seven assists after splitting time between forward and back during the season.
 
Kate Field, a fifth-year midfielder, adds five goals and four assists.
 
On the other end of the field, the Cougars are 13^th in the nation with a 0.42 goals against average while graduate transfer Madi Welliver owns an 84.3 save percentage.
 
Brenna Field, Julia Beck, Zoee Farr, Esabella Mendola and Ally Waite join a defensive unit that hold opponents to just 6.4 shots per game.
 
Marywood is 11-6-2 after winning the Atlantic East Conference championship.  The Pacers had eight players named to the All-AEC team, including first-teamers Brooke Longstreet, Mackenzie Bennett, Victoria Tzitzis, Riley Mulherin, Josie Sorce, Bekah Becker and Carly Walters.
 
Sorce and Tzitzis tied for the conference lead with 25 points and Sorce had a league-high 11 assists.
 
Carly Walters had a team-high nine goals while twin sister Caroline added three goals, including the game-winner in the AEC championship game.
 
Rebekah Becker is 11-3-1 with six shutouts and a 1.15 goals against average.
 
The Pacers are 10-1-1 over their last 10 matches.
 
This is the first meeting between Misericordia and Marywood since 2013.  The Cougars own an 11-2-1 record against their former Pennsylvania Athletic Conference rival.
 
The second game is the first-ever meeting between York and Western England.  York, 12-4-4, was the MAC Commonwealth runner-up.

The Spartans had five players make the All-MAC Commonwealth team, including first-team selections Makayla Harper, Erin Snyder, Moriah Morton and Jacqueline Keogh.

Ashley Hudak earned honorable mention and Kelly Wakeman was named Coach of the Year.

Harper (8g, 1a) led the team with 17 points while Snyder had 15 points on four goals and a team-high seven assists.

Morton and Ashlynn Weger add five goals each.

Keogh had an 84.4 save percentage and a 0.76 goals against average while posting eight shutouts in goal.

York was the top seed in the MAC Commonwealth after knocking off perennial champion Messiah in the regular season.

The Spartans are making their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2015.

Western New England is 13-5-2 after winning the Commonwealth Coast Conference championship.  The Golden Bears are making their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance and their first since 2006.

WNU had seven players earn All-CCC status, including Defensive Player of the Year Summer Hathaway.  She was joined on the first team by Allison Bruehwiler and Molly McLaughlin.

Malina LaCapra made the second team and Isabella Montalvo, Emma French and Danielle McCarthy made third team.

Hathaway anchored a defense that allowed just 0.74 goals per game.

Bruehwiler (8g, 5a) led the team with 21 points while Gabby Sansone added 14 points and a team-high six assists.

Montalvo and Samantha Vitka both have five goals and two assists.

In goal, McLaughlin has a 79.7 save percentage and a 0.75 goals against average with eight shutouts.