The Hope College women’s soccer team is kicking off the NCAA Division III Tournament the same place where it opened the 2014 season.
Coach Leigh Sears’ Flying Dutch will play at fifth-ranked Wheaton (Illinois) in Friday’s first-round match at 11 a.m. Central.
Hope (16-3-2 overall) and Wheaton (18-1-2) are two of four teams playing at Wheaton this weekend. The other first-round match pairs University of Dubuque, Iowa (16-4) against Illinois Wesleyan (14-6-1) at 1:30 p.m. CST Friday.
Friday’s winners will play on Saturday at 1 p.m. Central to determine to advances to sectional play.
Admission for each day is for $6 for adults, $3 for students and senior citizens, $2 for ages 3-12.
This is Hope’s fourth NCAA Tournament appearance. The Flying Dutch claimed one of 44 automatic berths to the 64-team national tournament after winning the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament.
Sectional play will be held on Nov. 21-22 or Nov. 22-23. The national semifinals and championship game are Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5-6, in Kansas City.
Hope dropped its 2014 season opener 4-1 at Wheaton on Aug. 29.