SAC Women’s Soccer Tournament Pairings

ROCK HILL, SC - The Lenoir-Rhyne University women's soccer team, which clinched its first conference championship with a 3-1 victory over Tusculum Saturday night, has earned the top seed for the 2010 Food Lion SAC Women's Soccer Tournament, the conference office announced Sunday.

The Bears went 8-1 in conference play to share the league crown with Carson-Newman College. Lenoir-Rhyne, 13-2-1 overall, earned the top seed by virtue of its 2-1 victory over Carson-Newman on October 2.

Lenoir-Rhyne will face eighth-seed Lincoln Memorial University in a quarterfinal match on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The Railsplitters went 3-6 in conference play, and are 10-6 overall. Lenoir-Rhyne defeated Lincoln Memorial 2-0 on October 9.

Conference co-champion Carson-Newman College earned the second seed. The Eagles, who advanced to the national quarterfinals last year, won their third straight conference title. Carson-Newman went 8-1 in conference play and is 11-6 overall.

Carson-Newman will host seventh-seed Tusculum College on Tuesday. The Pioneers went 3-5-1 in conference play and are 8-8-1 overall. Carson-Newman beat Tusculum 3-2 last week.

Wingate University earned the third seed after going 7-1-1 in conference play. The Bulldogs, 11-2-3 overall, will face sixth-seed Catawba College on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Indians went 3-4-2 in conference play to tie for fifth place. Catawba is 7-7-3 overall. Wingate defeated Catawba 2-1 on October 4.

Newberry College is the fourth seed after going 4-5 in conference play. The Wolves, 4-12-1 overall, will face fifth-seed Mars Hill College on Tuesday at 3 p.m. Newberry defeated Mars Hill 1-0 in their regular-season matchup on September 29.

Mars Hill went 3-4-2 in conference play to tie for fifth place. The Lions, 9-6-2 overall, earned the fifth seed over Catawba. Mars Hill and Catawba tied 1-1 on Sept. 25 and both lost to top-seed Lenoir-Rhyne and second-seed Carson-Newman. However, Mars Hill tied third-seed Wingate 2-2 on Sept. 18, while Catawba lost to Wingate 2-1 on Oct. 4.

Quarterfinal winners advance to the tournament semifinals, which will be held at Manchester Meadows Soccer Complex in Rock Hill, S.C. on Friday, November 5. The two women's semifinals will be played at 3 p.m.

The women's tournament championship will be Sunday, November 7 at 1 p.m. at Manchester Meadows Soccer Complex. The championship match will be videostreamed live over the Internet.

Admission to all Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament events is $5 for adults and $2 for college students and children 13 and under.

Fans showing their Food Lion MVP card can save $1 off the adult admission price. Also, the South Atlantic Conference is collecting new, unused soccer balls, footballs or basketballs during the semifinals and championships in conjunction with WRHI's Toys for Happiness campaign for Christmas gifts for underprivileged children. Fans donating a ball will receive two complimentary admissions.

Tuesday, November 2
Food Lion SAC Tournament quarterfinals
At higher seed
No. 8 Lincoln Memorial at No. 1 Lenoir-Rhyne, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Tusculum at No. 2 Carson-Newman, TBA
No. 6 Catawba at No. 3 Wingate, 7 p.m.
No. 5 Mars Hill at No. 4 Newberry, 3 p.m.

Friday, November 5
Food Lion SAC Tournament Semifinals
At Manchester Meadows, Rock Hill, SC
Lenoir-Rhyne / Lincoln Memorial winner vs. Newberry / Mars Hill winner, 3 p.m.
Winate / Catawba winner vs. Carson-Newman / Tusculum winner, 3 p.m.

Sunday, November 7
Food Lion SAC Tournament Championship
At Manchester Meadows, Rock Hill, SC
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.

Printable bracket