NCAA New England Regional Pushed Back a Day
Friday's weather forecast forces matches back to Saturday and Monday
RINDGE, N.H. (November 13, 2003) - This weekend's NCAA Division II New England Regional has been pushed back one day due to Friday's weather forecast for high winds and predicted wind chills dipping into the mid-teens.
Top-seeded Franklin Pierce (18-2, 13-1 NE-10), ranked No. 7 in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, is hosting the event with semifinal round action now on Saturday, with the New England Regional final slated for Monday at 1 p.m.
All matches will be played at the Franklin Pierce Field Hockey/Lacrosse complex, which also hosted last weekend's Northeast-10 Conference women's soccer championship between the Ravens and Merrimack College.
Admission for both days is $6 for adults, $4 for students and senior citizens and $1 for children 12 and under.
Franklin Pierce will host fourth-seeded Southern New Hampshire University (11-4-4, 8-3-3 NE-10) in Saturday's second semifinal scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. Second-seeded and No. 11-ranked Merrimack College (19-3, 12-2 NE-10) will battle third-seeded and No. 22-ranked College of Saint Rose (14-4-1, 10-3-1 NE-10) in Saturday's first game with kick-off slated for 11 a.m.
The winners of Friday's matches will square off for the New England Regional title on Monday at 1 p.m.
Franklin Pierce is participating in its Division II record 12th-straight NCAA Tournament and is in search of a record 12th-consecutive Final Four appearance and sixth National Championship. The Ravens captured their third-straight Northeast-10 Conference regular season and tournament double with a 4-3 victory over Merrimack in Sunday's NE-10 Tournament title match to win their fourth-straight tournament championship.
The winner of this weekend's New England Regional will advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals and host the winner of the Northeast Regional being hosted by top-seeded and No. 4-ranked Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y., on either Saturday or Sunday, November 22-23.
2003 NCAA Division II New
England Regional Tournament
Hosted by Franklin Pierce, Rindge, N.H., November
15-17
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, November 15
#3 Saint Rose vs. #2 Merrimack, 11 a.m.
#4 Southern New Hampshire at #1 Franklin Pierce, 1:30 p.m.
FINAL
Monday, November 17
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.