Tuesday, November 13, 2007

TUSCULUM, COLUMBUS STATE TO PLAY FOR REGION WOMEN'S SOCCER TITLE FRIDAY

COLUMBUS, Ga. --- The Tusculum women's soccer team will face Columbus State for the NCAA Division II Southeast Region Championship, this Friday night at 7 p.m. in Columbus, Ga. Tusculum is the top-seed in the regional, while Columbus State is the third seed.

CSU is also serving as the host site of the South Regional final on Friday at 4:30 p.m. when Tampa squares off against Montevallo. The winners of Friday's contests will meet in a national quarterfinal match in Columbus on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Division II Women's Soccer Final Four will take place in Orange Beach, Ala. (Nov. 29 - Dec. 1).

Tusculum (15-6) will be looking to return to the NCAA Elite Eight as the Pioneers are the defending Southeast Region champions. The Pioneers defeated Lincoln Memorial 3-1 to advance to the Regional final, while CSU (19-3-1) blanked Queens (N.C.) 5-0 last Friday and second-seeded Carson-Newman 3-0 on Sunday to advance.

This Friday's clash between the Pioneers and Cougars will be the second time the two teams have met this season. Tusculum edged Columbus State 1-0 on Aug. 31 at the CSU Soccer Complex. Freshman keeper Tori Hadjopoulos recorded the shutout as she faced 31 shots and posted 14 saves in the victory. Junior Ally Mathews recorded the match-winner in the first half for the Pioneers.

Tusculum is ranked No. 18 in the most recent NSCAA/adidas® poll, while Columbus State is sixth in the nation.

The Pioneers are making their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance and fourth trip to the national playoffs in five years.

- TC -