The Malone University women's soccer team will begin NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) East Region Tournament play on Wednesday afternoon when it travels to Mt. Vernon Nazarene University for a semifinal match against the Couagars at 2:30 p.m. The Pioneers, 8-8-1 overall, are seeded third in the event' s four-team field which also includes top-seeded Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College (14-3-2), second-seeded Mt. Vernon Nazarene (12-6-1) and fourth-seeded Geneva (PA) College (10-7-3).

Geneva will travel to Roberts Wesleyan on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. in the tournament's other semifinal match. The winners of Wedesday's contests will advance to Saturday's championship game that is to be played at the home field of the highest remaining seed. The NCCAA East Region Champion will receive an automatic bid to the NCCAA National Tournament which will be held December 1-4 at the Austin-Tindall Soccer Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.

The Cougars claimed a 2-0 victory at Malone on October 30th in the final game of the regular season for both teams. With the win, MVNU finished fourth in the American Mideast Conference regular season standings, securing the fourth seed in the five-team AMC Postseason Tournament. The Cougars then advanced to the event's semifinals before being eliminated with a 1-0 loss to Roberts Wesleyan (The Raiders then suffered a 2-0 defeat in the AMC Tournament's championship match).

Malone Notes: Midfielder Katie Heckman, a senior captain, has led the way for the Pioneer offense this year with six goals and seven assists…Forward Jasmine Evans has also made an impact with six goals…Keeper Angie Nutial has registered two shutouts and a 1.11 goals against average…Malone last competed in the NCCAA National Tournament in 2005….The Pioneers won an NCCAA National Title in 2002.

Mt. Vernon Nazarene Notes: The Cougars have surrendered just eight goals this season with 13 shutouts on the year… Senior goal keeper Jenessa Loewen was credited with 12 of those shutouts as she has posted an impressive 0.42 goals against average so far this season…forward Jessica Estep paces the Cougar offense with nine goals and six assists…Forward Courtney Ricker follows with five goals and one assist…MVNU's most recent appearance in the NCCAA National Tournament occurred in 2008…The Cougars won NCCAA National Titles in 2003 and 2006.