The 24^th-ranked Misericordia University women's soccer team will travel to the University of Rochester for the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Saturday.

The Cougars will face No. 25 Wesleyan (CT) in the opening round, Saturday at 7:00 PM while No. 6 Rochester and Penn St. Behrend will play at 4:30. The winners will meet Sunday at 5:00 for the right to advance to the Sweet 16.

Misericordia, 15-3-1, is making its 15^th NCAA Tournament appearance after winning its third straight MAC Freedom title.

MU advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sectional Final a year ago and reached the Sweet 16 in 2021, 2013 and 2014. Misericordia advanced to the Final Four in 2012.

The Cougars had eight players named to the All-MAC Freedom team, including Defensive Player of Year, Julia Beck. Head Coach Mark Stauffer was named MAC Freedom Coach of the Year.

Forward Emma Sweitzer led the team with 16 goals and seven assists and broke a 17-year-old record to become Misericordia's all-time scoring leader with 161 career points.

Beck, a back, is second on the team in scoring with 25 points on 10 goals and five assists.

Colleen Kinsella has 10 goals and four assists and scored a goal in both the MAC semifinals and finals.

Maegan Allspach, an All-Conference selection, had nine goals on the season.

On the other end of the field, first team All-MAC selection, Lauren Mondor owns a 0.87 goals against average.

Beck, Field, Haleigh Wintersteen and Carly Cavanaugh join a defensive unit that hold opponents to just 6.4 shots per game.

Wesleyan is 7-4-6 after falling to Amherst in the NESCAC semifinals. The Cardinals were granted an at-large bid by the NCAA Tournament Committee and are making their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Cardinals had three players earn first time All-NESCAC honors as Molly Brumbach, Waverly Meyers and Audrey Lavey were all named to the second team.

Brumbach leads the conference in three goalkeeper statistical categories with .660 goals against average, an 89.9 save percentage and 5.46 saves per game.

Lavey leads the Cardinals with 12 points on three goals and a team-high six assists.

Meyers and Katie O'Connell tied for the team lead with five goals.

This is the first ever meeting between nationally-ranked teams Misericordia and Wesleyan.

The first game of the weekend is the fourth ever meeting between Rochester and PSU-Behrend.  Rochester is 3-0 against the Lions with their last win coming in 2010.

This is the first NCAA Tournament appearance for Rochester since 2018 after finishing second in the University Athletic Association (UAA) this season.

Rochester is led by Claire Grover, who led the UAA with 15 goals.

The Yellowjackets defense allowed just nine goals on 118 shots all season. Goalkeeper Grace Kuropatkin allowed just eight goals with an 87.1 save percentage.

The Lions entered the AMCC Championship as the No. 1 seed and captured the conference title. Penn St. Behrend is one of the highest-scoring teams in the country, ranking in the top 10 of Division III in goals (80), assists (56) and total points (216) and averaging more than four goals per game.

The Lions are led by Trinity Prestash and Audra Kuzma, who have scored 14 and 10 goals, respectively.

Riley Morningstar has allowed just 15 goals, making 59 saves over 17 games started in goal.  

Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for seniors and students, $2 for children aged 3-12 with children 2 years and under being admitted free. All information can be accessed on the tournament page.