Oct. 30, 2006

Erie, Pa. - The Mercyhurst men's and women's soccer teams were each awarded bids to the NCAA National Championships today. The Laker women are the No. 2 seed in the Great Lakes Region, while the men are the No. 4 seed.

Each tournament consists of 32 teams and begins with regional play this week. Each of the eight regions will play a four team regional tournament this week to whittle the field down to eight teams.

The Mercyhurst women, playing in the national tournament for the first time since 2001, will compete at Grand Valley State Friday. Seeded No. 2, the Lakers will play No. 3 seed Indianapolis for the right to advance to the regional championship. The other match-up will pit No. 1 seed Grand Valley State, a team Mercyhurst has already defeated once this year, against No. 4 seed Quincy. The winners will play Sunday.

The quarterfinals will follow November 11 and the Final Four will take place November 16 and 18 in Pensacola, Fla.

The Mercyhurst men, playing in the national tournament for the first time since 2003, will face top-seeded Southern Illinois Edwardsville Thursday at 7 p.m. on the campus of their opponent. No. 2 seed Northern Kentucky will meet Wisconsin-Parkside in the other regional opening round game with winners meeting Saturday.

The regional winners will take part in the quarterfinals November 12 and the Final Four will take place November 16 and 18 in Pensacola, Fla.

Mercyhurst is the only regional school to place both their men and women's teams in the national tournament and is one of only six schools nationally to achieve that feat.