Kansas City, MO – The University of the Cumberlands women's soccer team earned the fifth-seed and will host the NAIA First and Second Round, the national office announced Friday night.  UC earned a first round bye and will face the winner of LSU Alexandera and Madonna in the second round on Saturday, November 21 at 2 p.m.
 
Cumberlands earned the fifth-overall seed and are the top team in the Williamsburg Bracket after capturing both the Mid-South Conference regular season and tournament titles for the second time in program history. This marks the eighth straight year that UC has qualified for an opening round and the sixth time since the 2020 season that they have hosted at the UC Soccer Complex.
 
The Patriots have compiled a 10-2-5 record on the year, after playing the second toughest schedules in NAIA this season. UC has outscored their opponents 53-13 with 11 shutouts on the season and six wins against teams that were ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Poll.  Cumberlands earned ties in both the MSC semifinals (#8 Lindsey Wilson) and the MSC championship (#22 Campbellsville) before advancing on penalty kicks.
 
Cumberlands will face the winner of LSU Alexandria and Madonna, who will face-off in the NAIA First Round on Thursday, November 19 at 2 p.m. LSU Alexandria earned an automatic berth after winning the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament.  The Generals compiled a 15-4-1 record on the year, including going 8-1 in conference play in capture a share of the RRAC regular season title.  LSU Alexandria won the RRAC Tournament with a 3-2 win over Our Lady of the Lake.
 
Madonna earned an automatic berth after capturing both the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference regular season and tournament title since 2005. The Crusaders compiled a 14-5-1 record, including an 8-0-1 record in WHAC conference play.  Madonna won three matches in the WHAC Tournament, including a 1-0 victory over Lawrence Tech in the tournament championship match.
 
The Mid-South Conference is well represented in the NAIA Opening Round with four teams qualifying. Campbellsville and Lindsey Wilson will also be representing the conference at opening round sites.
 
The winner of the second-round matchup will advance to the NAIA Final Site in Decatur, AL.
 
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