RCU QUALIFIES FOR WHAC POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT AS SIXTH SEED; TO FACE SIENA HEIGHTS

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. - RCU women's soccer has qualified for the 2024 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Tournament as the sixth seed. The Warriors will face third-seeded Siena Heights at O'Laughlin Stadium in Adrian, Mich., on Nov. 6. The Warriors earned the qualification with a 5-4-3 record in conference play, marking the third consecutive time the Warriors have qualified for conference postseason play. 

THREE KEY THINGS

SAINTS TAKE REGULAR SEASON MATCHUP

 The Saints defeated the Warriors in the regular season matchup 1-0 at O'Laughlin Stadium. In that game, Siena Heights outshot the Warriors 22-4. Despite that shot distribution, the Warriors' back line blocked several shots and put enough pressure on the Saints' forwards to force shots wide and not on goal. 

TOP FORWARDS SHOWDOWN

This matchup will feature two of the conference's top forwards - Olivia Howes of RCU and Lily Tiplady of Siena Heights. Both rank in the conference top ten in goals scored and have earned WHAC Offensive Player of the Week nods during the season. 

THE STAKES

The conference tournament provides the tournament winner an automatic NAIA National Tournament bid. #1 Aquinas (#4 national ranking) secured the 2024 WHAC Regular Season Championship, earning an NAIA National Tournament auto-bid in the process. If Aquinas wins the tournament, the auto-bid will go to the runner-up. 

SPORTS INFORMATION SPOTLIGHT

Howes' eight goals this season puts her just two behind tying third for the most in a season in RCU program history (10). 

THE FIRST-ROUND SLATE

Match #1 7:00pm #8 Madonna at #1 Aquinas
Match #2 6:00pm #5 Cornerstone at #4 Lourdes
Match #3 2:00pm #7 Indiana Tech at #2 UNOH
Match #4 7:00pm #6 Rochester Christian at #3 Siena Heights

Hussein Murray - RCU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: Hanna Swanson - StudioLens.Han