Kansas City, MO – The UC women's lacrosse team is coming off their first unbeaten regular season in program history and now they are one of the eight teams that have qualified for the NAIA National Championship in Savannah, GA. The Patriots are the second-seed in the tournament for the second time in program history and it's the third consecutive year that UC has advanced to nationals.

Cumberlands, who enters the tournament with a 14-1 record, will face the seventh-seed SCAD Savannah in the opening round.  The Bees went 8-2 overall this season and earned an at-large berth in the tournament.  Playing a conference only schedule, SCAD advance to the championship game of the AAC tournament before falling to third-ranked Reinhardt 20-7.

On the season, UC went 9-1 against teams that were ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Poll, including a 4-1 record against national qualifying teams.  The Patriots are led by Bella Ricchiazzi, Emily Heim, and Olivia McCarrell.  Ricchiazzi leads UC with 67 goals, 33 assists, and 100 points on the year, while Heim has added 80 points and 69 draw controls.  McCarrell is coming off of a phenomenal MSC tournament where she tallied 37 saves over three games, including a career-high 18 against Life.  On the season, she has notched 123 saves and limited opponents to a 5.33 goals against average.

The winner of the Cumberlands vs. SCAD game will face the winner of third-seed Reinhardt vs. sixth-seed Life.  On the other side of the bracket top-seed Keiser faces eighth-seed Siena Heights, while the four-five matchup features Benedictine taking on Lawrence Tech.

This will be the first match between the Patriots and Bees since March 23, 2018 and just the third meeting between these two schools overall.

For more information about the NAIA Invitational Tournament click here.

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