The Emporia State soccer team was selected to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in school history on Monday afternoon. The Lady Hornets earned the No. 2 seed in the Central Region and will play MIAA rival Fort Hays State in the first round on Friday at 1:00 p.m. at the ESU Pitch. No. 3 seed St. Cloud State and No. 6 seed Bemidji State will play at 10:00 a.m. on Friday. E-State won the 2023 MIAA Tournament with a 3-2 win over Central Missouri on Saturday while Fort Hays State fell in the semifinals against #15 Central Missouri. Washburn earned the region’s top seed and hosts Ouachita Baptist in the first round while the Jennies are the No. 5 seed and will play Minnesota State. Head coach Bryan Sailer said this NCAA berth feels different.
Graduate midfielder Hannah Woolery was grateful to receive one more home game on campus.
Emporia State is in the NCAA Tournament for the third-straight year and will be making their fourth appearance in program history. The Lady Hornets played Bemidji State to a 1-1 draw in last year’s Central Region Championship but fell in penalty kicks. The Emporia Central Regional winners will play on Sunday for a chance to advance to the Sweet 16.
