COLORADO SPRINGS — The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's soccer team makes their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance as they draw the No. 1 seed in the South Central region of the NCAA Tournament. As the No. 1 seed, the Mountain Lions will host the first and second round of the NCAA Regional.
"I have never been apart of something like this," said freshman forward Tanner Sanders. "I knew that we were first (seed), but it is still nice to hear our name called."
As the top seed, UCCS will host No. 4 seed Texas Woman's University and No. 5 Dixie State University. In the first round, No. 4 seed Texas Woman's will play No. 5 seed Dixie State on Friday, Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. inside Mountain Lion Stadium. The winner of the first round match will then move on to play No. 1 UCCS on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 1 p.m. in Mountain Lion Stadium for the second round match.
"To hear our name today and being the No. 1 seed, it is just what we wanted," explained senior midfielder Shanade Hopcroft.
"I think it just brings all of the excitement and emotion from 3 or 4 months of handwork to the forefront," said head coach Sian Hudson. "I am proud we were able to maintain the No. 1 seed and get to host again next weekend and hopefully get the soccer community back to Mountain Lion Stadium and have a different result this weekend than the conference championship."
The Mountain Lions hold a 19-1-0 overall record as the number one team in the nation, marking the first time in program history that UCCS has been the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Their 2019 NCAA Tournament berth marks the second time in three years that the Mountain Lions have hosted the first and second round of the NCAA Tournament.
"I honestly can't wait to a play team," added Hopcroft, who is ready to revenge their loss in the RMAC final. "Good luck to whatever team we play next."
