Daily Word: Previewing the NCAA Tournament Matchups

A pair of America East squads have already punched their tickets to the NCAA tournament. Now, Stony Brook women's soccer and Albany field hockey have learned their first round matchups and will begin final preparations. With both games coming this Saturday, let's take a look at those games and go inside the brackets.

WSOC: Stony Brook at No. 9 Maryland

The Seawolves draw a tough matchup in their first ever trip to the NCAA tournament, as they will go up against a team that has been in the top 25 throughout the season. Maryland comes into the tournament having lost in the ACC Championship to No. 3 Virginia, 4-0. The Terps are 13-6-2 this season, led by junior forward Hayley Brock. Brock has 11 goals this season, good for 42nd in the country. 

Maryland has been through the gauntlet in the ACC, as the conference will send nine teams to the NCAA tournament, and will certainly be a very tough task for the Seawolves. If Stony Brook can get by the Terps, it will be guaranteed to face a top 50 RPI squad in either Denver or Colorado College. Coach Sue Ryan stressed that her team was ecstatic to have the opportunity to be together for at least another week, so you have to think that the spirits will be high, regardless of the matchup. 

First kick will be this Saturday at 7 p.m. Stay tuned to AmericaEast.com for broadcast information.

FH: No. 17 Albany at No. 3 Penn St.

After upsetting New Hampshire in the America East final, a red hot Albany team will travel to State College to face a powerhouse Penn St. team. The Nittany Lions, which advanced to the second round of last year's tournament, earned the Big Ten's automatic bid to the NCAA for the second straight year and come in to the first round matchup ranked third in the country in goals per game. Penn St. is led by senior Kelsey Amy, whose 24 goals this season rank fifth in the country.

Albany comes into the tournament as one of the hottest teams in the country, having won eight straight games by a combined score of 29-4. Beating the Lions is certainly a tall task, but the Great Danes could possibly face a Massachusetts team that they have already beat in the second round if they get that far, as the Minutemen face off against Syracuse. 

Stay tuned for broadcast information, as the game will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Linked Up

Former Olympic Champion and Title IX advocate Nancy Hogshead-Makar will speak to Hartford University students.

Vermont men's basketball player Brian Voelkel was named to the Lou Henson preseason All-America Team.

Albany women's lacrosse team announced 11 incoming freshman players.

Maine released its women's basketball Media Guide.

The Stony Brook football team visited the local Children's Hospital.