Several of the area’s strong Division II programs are competing in championships this weekend, with automatic bids to the NCAA tournament on the line.
In the East Coast Conference, Roberts Wesleyan College (upstate Chili, N.Y.) will host the women’s and men’s championships. On the women’s side, #1 LIU Post takes on NYIT on Saturday at noon, followed by #3 Roberts Wesleyan and #2 St. Thomas Aquinas. Post ranks No. 6 in the NCAA East Regional poll, while STAC rates in at No. 4.
For the men, No. 1 Bridgeport, ranked second in the region, battles No. 5 Molloy Saturday at 5. No. 2 STAC (third regionally) battles No. 3 Daemen. Semifinal winners meet at noon (women) and 2:30 p.m. (men).
In the CACC, there was one surprise result in the men’s quarterfinals, with top-seeded and No. 5 in the region Bloomfield getting bounced by University of the Sciences in Bloomfield on Tuesday. The other top seeds held, leaving the Caldwell (vs. USciences, Saturday, noon) and Bloomfield women (vs. host Jefferson University, 2:30) and Dominican men (vs. Goldey-Beacom Saturday 5 p.m.) as the only area teams remaining. Championships are set for Sunday at noon (women) and 2:30 (men).