Pomona-Pitzer Athletics

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

NCAA First Round - Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024

11:00 a.m. - Pomona-Pitzer vs. UC Santa Cruz

1:30 p.m. - California Lutheran vs. Trinity University

NCAA Second Round - Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024

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

How Pomona-Pitzer Got Here

The Sagehens (15-2-2, 10-1-1) earned their spot in the 2024 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament for the seventh time in program history, this season via an at-large bid. After winning their sixth straight SCIAC regular season title, the Sagehens advanced to the conference tournament championship game but fell 1-0 to CMS. All seven of Pomona-Pitzer's NCAA Tournament appearances have come since the 2015 season with the Sagehens reaching the Elite Eight in 2016 and the Final Four in 2019. Pomona-Pitzer enters the weekend ranked ninth nationally in goals-against average (.316), outscoring opponents 36-6. Additionally, goalkeeper Patricia DePalma ranks eighth nationally in save percentage (.902), racking up 55 saves while allowing just six goals. 

How UC Santa Cruz Got Here
Just a day after claiming their first Coast-To-Coast Women's Soccer Conference Championship with a 2-0 victory over No. 2 Christopher Newport, the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs (10-2-5) heard their name called for the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer National Championship Tournament for the first time since 2019. They will travel to Southern California to take on No. 7 Pomona-Pitzer in the First Round while reigning National Champions California Lutheran and familiar NCAA program No. 22 Trinity (Tx.) will fill out the rest of the weekend pod. The Slugs are no stranger to the NCAA Tournament as this will be their 13th appearance in program history. 

(Courtesy of UC Santa Cruz)
 

How Cal Lutheran Got Here

After a remarkable run last year to bring home its first title in program history, Cal Lutheran (12-3-4) finds itself back in the mix for the highest honor in Division III women's soccer. On Sunday morning, hope was dimming as the Regals found themselves sitting outside the field of 64, with the 21 at-large teams now being decided by the NCAA's NPI rankings. A series of fortunate events allowed Cal Lutheran to sneak into the field as the second-to-last team in and get another shot at making history. The reigning champs live to fight another day.

(Courtesy of California Lutheran)
 

How Trinity University Got Here
The Tigers (16-1-2) won the conference title for the 28th time in school history and for the fifth consecutive year in the SCAC Tournament. Trinity has not allowed a goal in the conference tournament since 2016 and has won 14 of the 16 tournaments in the history of the SCAC. Both teams played an outstanding game that lived up to a championship-level contest. This was the third meeting between the two this season and this is the second Tiger win to go with an early-season tie with the Bulldogs. Trinity has now won 13 consecutive games heading into the NCAA Tournament.

(Courtesy of Trinity University)