For Immediate Release: November 24, 2003

Contact: Chris Gondek, SUNYAC Publicist

Oneonta Women’s Soccer Hosts NCAA Final Four This Weekend

FREDONIA, N.Y. – The Oneonta State women’s soccer team, after its 1-0 overtime victory over Scranton on Saturday, will host the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Final Four this weekend. The Red Dragons will oppose The College of New Jersey at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, followed by DePauw/University of Chicago at 1:30 p.m. The winners will meet in the national championship game at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.
The SUNYAC and NCAA New York Regional Champion Red Dragons are 19-1-3 on the season and have not allowed a goal in postseason this year thus far (five games). They have relied heavily on their defensive strength this year as the Red Dragons are currently 4^th in the nation in goals against average as a team (0.27) and 3^rd in shutout percentage (0.71). Oneonta has surrendered only six goals this year and has accumulated 17 shutouts.
Oneonta’s opponents in the semifinals are no strangers to the Final Four. The College of New Jersey won national titles in 1993, 1994, and 2000. They are also no strangers to Oneonta’s home field as they played at Red Dragon Field in the middle part of September in the Red Dragon Cup. The Lions hope the outcome will be different as they were beaten 2-1.
In the second semifinal, the University of Chicago opposes DePauw (IN). Last year, Oneonta traveled to Chicago for the NCAA Regionals. The Maroons ended the Red Dragons’ season on their own field 2-1 in overtime.