Denison University and DePauw University opened the North Coast Athletic Conference schedule on Sept. 15 in Greencastle, Ind. Now, seven weeks later, the two teams will take to the pitch in Granville to put a bookend on NCAC Tournament play. The Big Red and Tigers will face off in the championship match of the 2012 NCAC Tournament on Saturday afternoon from Barclay-Thomsen Field at 2 p.m.
Third-seeded Denison is making its seventh appearance in the tournament finals, with its last trip coming in 2010. The Big Red secured a spot in the title match after knocking off second-seeded Wooster, 1-0, on Thursday afternoon. DU won its first NCAC Tournament crown in 2003, and captured its most recently title in 2010 after shutting out rival Allegheny, 1-0, in Granville. Saturday's match will be the third time Denison has hosted the championship game of the NCAC Tournament.
The Big Red attack is led by junior Jocelyn Festle and first-year Andrea Witte. Festle leads the team with six goals and 14 points, while Witte has scored four times and added a team-best three assists. The rookie forward has netted three game winners, including the lone goal in DU's semifinal victory over Wooster on Thursday. Junior goalkeeper Andrea Karl enters the NCAC Championship match with a 1.06 goals-against average, five shutouts and 53 saves.
Fourth-seeded DePauw earned its first NCAC Tournament Championship berth after upsetting top-seeded Wittenberg, 2-1, in Springfield. The Tigers garnered their first NCAC Tournament appearance after posting a 4-3-1 record in league play, finishing in a tie with Denison.
On Sept. 15 in Greencastle, the Big Red edged DePauw, 1-0, after Witte recorded an unassisted tally in the 80th minute. Karl posted three saves en route to earning the shutout victory. The DU win avenged a 2011 loss to the Tigers in Granville. Denison holds a 4-1-1 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1993.
Ticket prices for the women's soccer match are $7 for adults and $3 for children. All NCAC students with a valid ID will be admitted free of charge. A live video broadcast will be provided by the Denison Sports Network along with live stats.
