Bracket
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - #7 Lebanon Valley College has earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament, and will host Wittenberg University on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. in the NCAA First Round.
The winner of the game will take on #8 Rowan University, which received a first-round bye, at Messiah College on Saturday at 2 p.m.. The winner of that game will play the winner of #1 Messiah's game against either Eastern or Stevens Tech, on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
It is the fifth consecutive NCAA appearance and 15th overall for #7 LVC (17-3), the runner-up in the Commonwealth Conference. Wittenberg (12-5), an at-large selection from the North Coast Athletic Conference, is making its eighth NCAA appearance and first since 2004.
LVC and Wittenberg have met before in the NCAA Tournament; LVC won, 4-1, at home in the 1997 first round en route to a final four appearance. In their only other match-up in series history, the Tigers beat the Dutchmen, 2-1, in the 2002 regular season.
Lebanon Valley has been led offensively by sophomore Jocelyn Novak, who is among the national scoring leaders with 29 goals and 61 points this season. A terrific group of forwards includes junior
Shelly Lobach (12 g, 15 a), freshman
Caitlin Vasey (11 g, 13 a), and junior
Allison Bicher (12 g, 8 a), and sophomore midfielder
Jenni Walker has three goals and 11 assists. In goal,
Caitlin Baro has a 1.18 GAA with a .778 record and five shutouts.
The Tigers have a trio of main goalscorers, led by Boo Vernon's 16 goals and 11 assists, and Elizabeth Dwyer (13 g, 6 a) and Tori Casanta (12 g, 4 a) joining her. Those three account for 80 percent of Wittenberg's 51 total goals. A trio of goalkeepers have seen time, but Jenny Schaafsma has settled into the starting role and has a 1.44 GAA and .818 save percentage with an 8-3 record and four clean sheets.