By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner / Strategic Communications
POMONA, Calif. – South Central Regional and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champion Colorado School of Mines travels to West Region Champion Cal Poly Pomona for a 2 p.m., Saturday quarterfinals match with a trip to the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship semifinals on the line.
The Orediggers will look to continue their magic in California where their men's cross country team won the Division II national championship last month. It also marks a return to where the women's soccer team's season began with back-to-back wins at San Francisco State and at Chico State on Sept 6 and 8.
Colorado School of Mines (20-0-2) reaches the quarterfinals as one of two 20-win teams in Division II this season. The Orediggers won the South Central Region by advancing past No.5 seed Colorado Mesa in penalty kicks to open the tournament before pushing past No. 2 seed Angelo State, 3-1 on Dec. 1, to win the title. Bella Campos has led Colorado School of Mines in the tournament, averaging 3.0 points per game – second most in the championship. With its six goals in two matches, the Orediggers are the second-most potent offense in the tournament while averaging 11 shots on goal per match – third most in the tournament.
Cal Poly Pomona (19-1-2) was the No. 1 seed in the West Regional after winning the regular season and tournament titles. The Broncos won the West Region with a 1-0 victory against Western Washington and a 2-1 win against Point Loma on Nov. 30. Marisa Salazar leads Cal Poly Pomona with four points in the tournament, scoring two goals.
The winner of Saturday's match advances to the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship semifinals on Dec. 13 in Matthews, North Carolina. Matchups for the Final FOur will be determined by the Division II Women's Soccer Championship committee, which will seed each of the four advancing teams.