INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The NCAA unveiled its 2026 tournament bracket for the Division III Women's Soccer Tournament on Monday and the Husson University women's soccer team will take on No. 3 Tufts University in its opening game.
The Eagles (10-5-2) will take on Tufts (13-1-3) at 11 a.m. on Saturday with No. 15 Vassar College (11-1-5) earning the right to host the four-team pod, which also features Vassar taking on RV University of Hartford (13-3-1) at 1:30 p.m. on Vassar's Gordon Field. The winners of Saturday's two games will meet on Sunday at 1 p.m. to determine who will advance to the final 16.
Husson clinched its sixth North Atlantic Conference championship in program history on Saturday evening with a 2-0 win over top-seeded Lesley University. Junior Hailey Tarbox's eventual game-winner in the 27th minute put the Eagles in front, while sophomore Jaquie Pangburn added an insurance tally in the 66th minute off of a feed from NAC Tournament MVP senior Olivia Charles. This is the second NCAA tournament appearance for the Eagles under head coach Dennis Mullins, as Husson fell to No. 18 New York University in 2024 and will be looking for its second-ever NCAA tournament win and its first since 2008.
Tufts earned an at-large selection into this year's field after falling 2-1 to No. 8 Williams College over the weekend in the New England Small College Athletic Conference title game. The Jumbos will be making their 13th appearance in the NCAA tournament and are looking to make their way back to the final four for the second straight season.
Vassar is coming off its second-straight Liberty League Championship following a 2-1 win at No. 11 William Smith College Sunday afternoon. Alice Crowley opened the scoring in the seventh minute with Gianna Panarelli potting the game winning goal in the 22nd minute. Elena Valle picked up the assist on the game winning tally with Lucy Hart helping on the opening goal. Laura Shea earned the win in goal for Vassar with four saves. The Brewers are making their third-straight NCAA tournament appearance (4th overall) and will be looking for their second-ever NCAA tournament win.
Hartford is coming off of its third-straight Conference of New England title with a 3-0 win over Suffolk University. Reese Sadler, Taylor Freimuth and Anastasia Nerney supplied the goals in the title tilt with Madelyn Nunnemacher posting a shutout in goal with nine saves. The Hawks are looking for their first NCAA Division III Tournament win in women's soccer since dropping down from Division I.
Tickets for this weekend's contests at Vassar are CASH ONLY with adult single-game tickets costing $10, student single-game tickets costing $5, an All-Session Pass costing $25 and children 12 and under getting free admission. Gates will open 90 minutes prior to the kickoff of the first match on each day.
