BRACKET

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's soccer was selected as one of the 20 at-large bids in Monday's NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Selection Show. It will be the Bombers 27^th NCAA Tournament appearance and their first since 2015.
 
The Bombers, who are currently 13-2-3 on the season, head to Middlebury College where they will face the University of Rochester in Saturday's first-round game at 1:30 p.m. Maine-Farmington rounds out the four-team pod and will face the host team, Middlebury. The winners of each game will meet in Sunday's second-round contest.
 
ITHACA VS. REGIONAL FIELD
 
Rochester
The Bombers are no strangers to the Yellowjackets as they have met 27 times on the soccer field since 1981. Rochester holds a slight 13-9-5 edge over the Bombers in that time. Most recently, IC battled to a 2-2 draw with the Yellowjackets in 2016 when Rochester was one of three teams to make the trip to South Hill for the Upstate Collegiate Cup.
 
Middlebury/Maine-Farmington
Ithaca has never faced Middlebury or Maine-Farmington in women's soccer.
 
ITHACA VS. 2018 NCAA PLAYOFF FIELD
 
The Bombers know several NCAA playoff teams well, as three other Liberty League team's made the tournament. William Smith won the conference to earn the automatic bid, while RIT and Vassar also earned at-large bids.
 
Most recently, IC tied RIT in the Liberty League semifinal on Saturday, but the Tigers advanced, 4-3, on penalty kicks. The Bombers also lost to RIT on October 24, 2-1. The Bombers defeated Vassar easily in the final game of the regular-season, 3-0, behind two goals from Alex Epifani. Ithaca lost to William Smith, 4-0, on October 3.
 
IC also played two other NCAA playoff-bound teams to open the season – Centenary University and Westfield State. The Bombers topped Centenary, 3-1, in the season-opener before beating Westfield State, 1-0, the following day.
 
ITHACA IN THE NCAA PLAYOFFS
 
The Bombers are making their 27^th appearance in the NCAA Division III championship and their 15^th since 2000. Most recently, IC lost in the first round in 2015 to Catholic University. Ithaca has won two national championships, in 1990 and 1991 and was the national runner-up in 1989. The Bombers made the tournament for the first time in 1987 when they battled Scranton.
 
THE 2018 CHAMPIONSHIP
 
Sixteen four-team sites will conduct first- and second-round play on the first weekend of the championship, November 9-10 or 10-11. Second-round winners will advance to one of four sectional sites November 16-17 or 17- 18. All games, except the semifinals and final, will be played on the campuses of competing institutions. Winners of the four sectionals will advance to the semifinals November 30 and December 1, at UNCG Soccer Stadium in Greensboro, N.C, with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Greensboro Sports Commission serving as hosts.
 
LEADERS
 
The Bombers have been led by sophomore Alex Epifani this season, as she leads both the team and conference with nine goals, seven assists and 15 points. Junior Gabriella Mihale has also been a solid offensive option for the Bombers, as she has netted five goals and added two assists this year.
 
Ithaca also has a core group of strong defenders – McKensie Galusha, Kate Kohler, Reid Garner and Sam Robinson – who have been a big part of the Bombers' success this season.
 
More information to follow.