The undefeated SUNY Cortland field hockey team has received a berth into the 24-team NCAA Division III playoffs and will play in a four-team regional Nov. 14-15 at Salisbury University in Maryland. Cortland (18-0), one of eight teams to receive a first-round bye, will face either Christopher Newport University (Va.) or Cabrini College (Pa.) in a second-round matchup Saturday at 1 p.m.

Host Salisbury (16-1) will play either Hamilton College or the College of Wooster (Ohio) Saturday at 10 a.m. The two second-round winners will meet in the national quarterfinals Sunday at 1 p.m. at Salisbury. Christopher Newport (15-3) hosts Cabrini (11-10) and Wooster (16-5) hosts Hamilton (12-4) in NCAA first-round games on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

(UPDATE ON NOV. 11: Christopher Newport defeated Cabrini, 1-0, and Wooster defeated Hamilton, 2-1, in first-round action.)

The regional winner advances to the NCAA Div. III “final four” Nov. 21-22 at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass.

Cortland, led by 12th-year head coach Cynthia Wetmore, is making its 11th straight NCAA appearance and 25th overall. The Red Dragons advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals last year with wins over Castleton State and Salisbury, the latter in overtime, before losing to Ursinus College. Cortland lost in the second round in 2007, was a national quarterfinalist three straight years from 2004-06, and advanced to the semifinals in 2003.

Cortland is making its 18th NCAA showing in the last 19 years. The Red Dragons won national titles in 1993, 1994 and 2001 and finished second in 1997. They tied for third in 1999 and 2003, placed third in both 1989 and 1996 and were fourth in 1988.

The Red Dragons posted only the second undefeated regular season in school history. Cortland went 18-0 in the 2006 regular season and finished 19-1 after losing in double overtime at Ursinus in the quarterfinals.

The Red Dragons won their 10th straight State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) title this fall with a 6-0 mark, but actually received a “Pool B” independent bid to nationals since the SUNYAC does not have enough teams to qualify for an automatic berth.

Cortland has outscored its opponents 65-21 in 18 game. Three Red Dragons have double-figure goal totals. Freshman Sara Woodward (Pine Plains) and sophomore Danielle Hand (Whitney Point) have scored 11 goals each and junior Brenda Semit (Holland Patent) has tallied 10 goals. Semit also leads the Red Dragons with 12 assists and 35 total points. Junior Ashley Hughes (Selden/Comsewogue), who converted from back to goalie prior to this season, has a 1.00 goals against average and three solo shutouts in 18 starts.

Complete Bracket (PDF file)