2019 NCAA Division II Tournament Bracket
EAST STROUDSBURG – The 23rd-ranked East Stroudsburg University women's soccer team is set to face 15th-ranked Millersville in an NCAA Division II First Round matchup on Thursday, November 21 at 1 p.m. at Bloomsburg University's Steph Pettit Stadium.
The Warriors are returning to the NCAA DII Tournament for the sixth-consecutive season after receiving an at-large bid during Monday night's Women's Soccer Selection Show. ESU was announced as the Atlantic Region's fifth seed and will be paired up against fourth-seeded Millersville. The winner will advance to face the top overall seed in the region, No. 6 Bloomsburg, on the Huskies' home turf on Saturday at 2 p.m.
ESU has now qualified for eight NCAA DII Tournaments overall, including seven appearances under 13th-year Head Coach Rob Berkowitz. The Warriors won an Atlantic Region Championship and advanced to the Elite Eight in 2015, and finished as the Atlantic Region runner-up in 2017.
The Warriors own a 14-6 record this season and reached the PSAC Semifinals before falling to Slippery Rock in overtime. The loss kept ESU from reaching its sixth-straight PSAC Championship Match.
ESU's offense is led by Melissa Herrera (7g, 3a) and Monica Wood (6g, 5a), who are tied for the team-lead with 17 points apiece. Herrera was named the PSAC Eastern Division Freshman of the Year last week, as she was one of five Warriors to earn All-Conference recognition. Four other Warriors have posted 10 points or more on the year, as the team's balanced offense ranks fifth in the PSAC, averaging 2.35 goals per game. Goalie Mauri Jackson has been outstanding in net for the Warriors, ranking second in the conference in save percentage (.878) and shutouts (9), and third in goals against average (.692).
For Millersville, Kay Liebl is the team's leader with 26 points on 10 goals and six assists, while Michelle Belcher has contributed eight goals and two assists. The Marauders rank third as a team in scoring in the PSAC this season, averaging 2.40 goals per contest. Reagan Kolinski owns a .864 save percentage in net and has posted seven shutouts on the year.
The matchup between ESU and Millersville on Thursday will be the fourth meeting between the teams this season. The Marauders came away with a pair of one-goal wins over the Warriors during the regular season, before ESU pulled out a 1-0 overtime victory at Millersville in the PSAC Quarterfinals last Tuesday.
