Pomona-Pitzer Athletics

NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament - First and Second Round Schedule

NCAA First Round - Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023

11:00 a.m. - Pomona-Pitzer vs. Pacific Lutheran

1:30 p.m. - California Lutheran vs. Carleton

NCAA Second Round - Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023

1:00 p.m. - Winner of Game 1 & Game 2 

How Pomona-Pitzer Got Here

The Sagehens (15-0-3, 9-0-3) earned their spot in the 2023 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament after winning the SCIAC Tournament Championship for the fourth-straight season with a 1-0 victory over the California Lutheran Regals this past weekend. This will be the sixth NCAA Appearance for the Sagehens, all coming since the 2015 season with Pomona-Pitzer reaching the Elite Eight in 2016 and the Final Four in 2019. The Sagehens enter the weekend with 40 goals on the year while holding opponents to just six goals, good for a 0.33 goals per game average. Pomona-Pitzer features a well-balanced squad that averages 17.1 shots per game and holds teams to 6.6 shots per game. 

How The Lutes Got Here
The NCAA Selection Committee released the 64-team field for the 2023 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship on Monday with seven-time Northwest Conference Champion Pacific Lutheran University heading to southern California for a first round tilt against Pomona-Pitzer Colleges. The Lutes were one of 42 automatic qualifiers to the tournament by virtue of winning the NWC title this fall. PLU will face host Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Champion Pomona-Pitzer (15-0-3, 9-0-3 SCIAC) in the opening round on Saturday in Claremont, California with the winner taking on either at-large bid California Lutheran University (15-1-4) or at-large qualifier Carleton College (16-2-2) from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Pacific Lutheran is no stranger to the Sagehens with the two last meeting in the NCAA Tournament down in Texas during the 2021 season. This is the Lutes' sixth trip to the NCAA Tournament and the 12th overall national tournament appearance for the program. PLU previous qualified for the NCAA Championships in 2022, 2021, 2019, 2017, and 2016 while earning bids to the NAIA Championships from 1987-1992, winning national titles in 1988, 1989, and 1991. 

(Courtesy of Pacific Lutheran)
 

How Cal Lutheran Got Here

The Cal Lutheran (15-1-4 and 9-0-3) women's soccer team heard their name called on the NCAA Selection Show on Monday,  earning an at-large bid to the 2023 NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament after falling to Pomona-Pitzer 1-0 in the SCIAC Tournament Championship over the weekend. This will be the Regals' 16th NCAA postseason appearance with Cal Lutheran reaching the Sweet Sixteen in 2017 for the first time in program history. Cal Lutheran will face Carleton College (MN) (16-2-2) at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 11th.

(Courtesy of California Lutheran)
 

How Carleton Got Here
Carleton (16-2-2), which was a Pool C ("at-large") selection to the 64-team field, is making its fourth all-time appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament (2008, 2009, and 2010). The Knights went 16-2-2 this season, the second-highest win total in program history. For the second consecutive season, they went undefeated in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) action en route to the conference regular-season title. Carleton defeated Augsburg, 3-0, in the MIAC Semifinals and carried a 16-match unbeaten streak into the MIAC Finals, which it lost 1-0 to St. Catherine for the second time in as many years. The Knights will face off with the California Lutheran Regals on Saturday, November 11th at 1:30 p.m.

(Courtesy of Carleton)