INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) on Sunday announced the 11-team field for its Division III Women’s Hockey Championship, and Gustavus (24-3), with the MIAC’s automatic qualifier, got a bid to the quarterfinals as a host seed.
And, if they didn’t see each other enough this season, the Gusties will host UW-River Falls (24-3-1) for both teams’ first round matchup, with puck drop slotted for Saturday at 2 p.m.
The Falcons earned one of four at-large bids to the tournament, as the WIAC does not receive an automatic qualifier. River Falls finished the season as the WIAC regular season champions and playoff champions, thanks to a 5-1 victory over UW-Eau Claire.
The NCAA matchup between the Gusties and the Falcons will be the fourth just this year, with each team winning a regular season game in regulation, and the final decided by the Falcons with just 5.5 seconds remaining in overtime.
The Gusties enter the national tournament for the third straight year after falling to Middlebury in the title game in an unprobable overtime thriller.
The Gusties are one of four quarterfinal hosts, as Adrian (Mich.), Amherst (Mass.), and Plattsburgh (N.Y.) will host the winners of the three semifinal games to be played Wednesday.