Elon will compete against the University of Virginia on Friday, May 12, on Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill, N.C.
After its run to the 2017 Colonial Athletic Association’s Women’s Lacrosse Tournament championship game during the weekend, Elon University on Sunday night earned an at-large berth to the 2017 NCAA Tournament, marking its first trip to the nationwide collegiate championship tourney.
The at-large tournament bid, one of 13 awarded, was announced by the NCAA on the Selection Show streamed on NCAA.com. In its fourth year of competition, Elon will continue its season on Friday against the University of Virginia in Chapel Hill, N.C. Opening draw time will be determined later.
With a record of 13-6 so far this year, Elon looks to extend its program record for most wins in a season with a run in the Big Dance, which features the country’s top 26 teams. The tournament culminates in a May 28 championship game in Gillette Stadium in Boston.
The Phoenix’s first-round opponent – Virginia – finished the season 11-8 and reached the ACC tournament semifinals on Friday, but fell 15-12 to Syracuse University there after beating the University of Louisville in overtime the day before. This will be Elon’s second matchup of the season against Virginia. The Phoenix defeated the Cavaliers 11-10 on Feb. 11 in Charlottesville, Va., on a goal by Abby Godfrey with just one second to play.
Elon advanced to the CAA tournament title game on Sunday against James Madison University after defeating No. 17 Towson in a Friday night semifinal match at Towson’s Johnny Unitas Stadium. The victory over the Tigers gave the Phoenix its third win over a nationally-ranked opponent this season and the fourth in program history.
During the title game on Sunday, James Madison University got off to a hot start in jumping out to a 6-0 lead on the way to a 15-7 win to capture its 10th conference tournament championship overall and second in the last three years.
To follow the Phoenix in the NCAA Tournament, visit elonphoenix.com for more information ahead of the start of the tournament and follow the team’s journey on Twitter at @ElonWLax, on Facebook at Elon Women’s Lacrosse and on Instagram at @elonwlax.