Linfield Heads to Virginia for NCAA Division III Finals

Linfield finished fourth in the nation at the 2006 tournament.

Photo: Linfield Athletics

SALEM, Va. - Fresh from their euphoric triumph at the NCAA Division III West Region championship tournament in Pineville, La., the Linfield Wildcats must regroup and refocus in preparation for their first opponent in the national tournament, the Emory Eagles of Atlanta, Ga. Linfield staved off elimination four times in the West Regional to advance to the eight-team NCAA Division III Finals.

The Wildcats remained in Alexandria, La., on Monday and will fly directly to Roanoke, Va., Tuesday for the national championship tournament.

Top-seeded Linfield faces eighth-seeded Emory Friday at 11:00 AM EDT in the tournament’s opening game at the Moyer Sports Complex in nearby Salem, Va.

Emory, which finished third in the United Athletic Association, won the Southeast Regional and is making its third trip to the College World Series and first since 2003.

The Eagles post an overall record of 32-6, the program's seventh straight season of 30 or more wins. Emory is ranked 12th in the nation.

Second-ranked Linfield, a four-time Northwest Conference champion, is making its second straight trip to the College World Series.

Other tournament pairings include Moravian (35-5) vs. DePauw (36-5), Wisconsin-Eau Claire (35-12) vs. Rhode Island (41-5), and Washington-St. Louis (32-5) vs. Plattsburgh State (35-12).

The Wildcats (40-6), winners of four straight elimination games at the West Region tournament, are the only team returning team from last season’s NCAA Finals.

Linfield finished fourth in the nation at the 2006 tournament.

A tournament luncheon, practice at the softball complex, a community service activity, and coaches' meetings will occupy much of the day Thursday

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