INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. --- History was made in two different ways on Monday morning with the announcement of the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship bracket. For the first time in league history, three ODAC schools will compete for the women's lacrosse title with conference champion Washington and Lee University joined by Roanoke College and Shenandoah University as at-large selections.
The Generals (16-3) and Maroons (15-4) are veterans of this stage, making their 23rd and 12th appearances in the tournament, respectively. But for the Hornets (14-4), this is the program's first foray into the Division III women's lacrosse championship.
Division III's 46-team field is composed of 31 squads from Pool A, one from Pool B, and 14 from Pool C. Pool A consists of automatic qualifiers from conferences. Pool B is reserved for those schools that are independent from a conference or compete in a league that does not feature an automatic entry. Pool C includes all teams not yet picked for the championship with those entering the field selected by the Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship Committee.
Located in the upper-left quadrant of the bracket, Shenandoah will compete in a first-round contest against SUNY Canton (12-5). The game will take place at Ithaca College with the winner taking on the host Bombers (17-1) in round two.
Roanoke is also located on the left side of the bracket, but in the lower quadrant. The Maroons' first round game will be a day earlier than the rest of the field with RC squaring off with Hope College (13-4), which does not compete on Sundays. The winner will face Capital University (14-4) on Saturday in the second round with the Comets hosting both contests.
Washington and Lee is situated in the lower-right quadrant of the bracket and will host first and second round competition. Rhodes College (11-4) and Transylvania University (8-7) will meet in the first round on Alston Parker Watt Field with the winner taking on the Generals the next day.
Tournament play begins with first and second round play on Saturday and Sunday, May 11-12, with the exception of Roanoke's Friday-Saturday pod at Capital. Regional competition in the third round and quarterfinals is slated for Saturday and Sunday, May 18-19. All early round competition will be hosted at campus facilities.
ODAC country is again home to the national semifinals and championship game with the final four teams in the bracket heading to "Virginia's Championship City" in Salem, Va. Roanoke's Donald J. Kerr Stadium will host the final three games with the semifinals scheduled for Friday, May 24 and the title game set for Sunday, May 26. Game times are 12:00 p.m. ET and 3:00 p.m. ET for the semifinals and 12:00 p.m. ET for the championship tilt.