The St. Edward’s University women’s soccer team qualified for the post season for the second time in three years.

The team will compete in the South Central Regional hosted at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. Incarnate Word (15-2-3, 10-1-1 HC) won the Heartland Conference title and achieved the highest ranking in the region this season.

“I think our team is as talented as we have had the past four years, but we’ve have a lot of injuries the past year,” said women’s soccer Head Coach Nick Cowell.

Cowell said that making it as far as they have shows the team has a lot of depth on the roster.

The Hilltoppers’ (15-3-1, 10-2 HC) first round match will be against Central Oklahoma University on Friday, Nov. 13.

Cowell said that playing their game will be key going into the first game in post season, as well as defense.

“We have a very suffocating defense,” said Cowell. “Not very many teams have been able to score on us. I think we’ve only let in six goals in the past 19 games. We just need to bring our intensity on defense.”

The team took on the Central Oklahoma Bronchos during their non-conference schedule in late August. This match, which took place in Austin, had St. Edward’s coming out on top 2-0. The Hilltoppers dominated most categories, including out-shooting the Bronchos 14-4.

Central Oklahoma qualified for the NCAA tournament by upsetting the South Central Region top seed West Texas A&M University in penalty kicks in the Lone Star Conference Tournament.

This is the team’s second appearance in the NCAA tournament in the past three years.

In 2007, the Hilltoppers were the top seed in the South Central Region and hosted the tournament, which earned them a bye through the first round. In the second round, they faced Central Oklahoma, which upset them in overtime 2-1. This result stunned the team and eliminated them from the tournament.

The Hilltoppers are hoping to avoid being bounced early by winning their first round match and moving on to face Incarnate Word.

The team split the season series with the Cardinals. In their first meeting in Austin, the Hilltoppers fell behind early but scored one goal in the first half, and the game winner in the second half to capture the first meeting of the year.

Then on Oct. 30, in San Antonio, Incarnate Word captured the lead in the 13th minute and did not relinquish that lead. Had St. Edward’s won this game, it would have all but clinched the Heartland Conference title, which was ultimately won by Incarnate Word.

St. Edward’s lost the game prior to its meeting with Incarnate Word against Newman University 0-1 in double overtime, their first conference loss of the year. Following the two-game skid, the Hilltoppers rebounded with two wins over Texas A&M University International 3-0 and St. Mary’s University 3-0.

St. Edward’s has amassed some impressive statistics this season. This year, the Hilltoppers have only allowed six goals, while scoring 50. The team has also outshot opponents 427 to 71.

The team’s NCAA opener kicks off in San Antonio on Friday, Nov. 13 at 8 p.m.