Seattle U Draws Washington in Opening Round of NCAA Tournament
DENVER –The NCAA has released the first round matchups for the upcoming 2019 NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament. Conference champion Seattle U earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament when they defeated Utah Valley in the 2019 WAC Women's Soccer Championship. The Seattle U Redhawks won't have to travel far as they'll take on No. 4 seed Washington in the opening round.
Following a bye in the first round of the conference tournament, the Redhawks drew No. 5 seed UT Rio Grande Valley in the semifinal match. Though Seattle U dominated possession and doubled the Vaqueros in shots, it wasn't until the 77th minute that the Redhawks were able to break through with an unassisted goal from Lauren Brown. This would prove to be the game-winner and sent Seattle U to their seventh-straight conference title game, currently the longest active streak in the nation.
In the championship match, First Team All-WAC selection Leahi Manthei and WAC Offensive Player of the Year Jessie Ray both netted goals as the Redhawks were able to prevail over the No. 2 seed Wolverines 2-1 in overtime. Ray, the eventual WAC Tournament MVP, scored the golden goal for Seattle U in the 99th minute of the match to claim the Redhawks fifth conference tournament championship since 2013. This marks the first time that the regular season champion went on to win the WAC tournament since Seattle U did so in 2016.
The Redhawks are familiar with the Huskies as this is the second time they will match up against one another this season. In the first meeting on Aug. 26, Seattle U battled Washington to a nil-nil draw highlighted by a Madison Waguespack penalty save in the second half.
This will be the Redhawk's fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Seattle U most recently reached the NCAA tournament in 2016 when they faced UCLA in Los Angeles. The Redhawks ultimately fell to the Bruins by a score of three-nil.