WESTFIELD, Mass.  –  Westfield State University will play at Messiah (Pa.) University in the opening round of the 2017 NCAA Division III women's soccer tournament this weekend in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
 
Messiah was ranked 7^th in the nation in the most recent national poll. The national runners-up last year, the Falcons have won five national titles, most recently in 2012.
 
Westfield State is making its sixth appearance in the NCAA Tournament, all in the last 10 seasons.  The Owls last advanced to the NCAA's in 2015, and the Owls advanced to the second round of the NCAA's in 2012 after winning a penalty kick shootout at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J.
 
The Owls earned an automatic bid to the NCAA's as the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament champions, defeating Worcester State in the title game, 2-1.
 
The Falcons earned an at-large bid to the NCAAs after losing in the finals of the Middle Atlantic Commonwealth Conference tournament to Arcadia, Pa., 1-0 in double overtime.
 
Westfield is 11-5-3 overall this season and finished in a three way tie for the MASCAC's regular season crown with a 6-1 mark in league play.
 
Rowan (N.J.) will play Scranton (Pa.) at Messiah in the other first round game in the four-team regional pod.
 
Release courtesy of Westfield State Sports Information