SPOKANE, Wash. -- Whitworth University will play University of California - Santa Cruz in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The match will take place at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington.

Greta Thibodeau leads the Bucs in total points

The Pirates (17-2) will play the Banana Slugs (12-2-2) on Saturday at 1:30 p.m., following the first match between the host Loggers (18-1-1) and Cal Lutheran University (8-10-4).

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The Pirates were awarded one of the 18 Pool C (at-large) bids to the 60 team tournament. Whitworth has offered a highly balanced attack this season with five different players scoring at least six goals. Lindsey Oakes (So., MF, Boise, Idaho) leads the team with nine goals this fall and Greta Thibodeau (Sr., F, Juneau, Alaska) has six goals and 12 assists for a team-high 24 points. The Pirates, who set a school record for wins this season, are making their first-ever national tournament appearance.

UCSC was given one of the four Pool B (independent) bids to the tournament. The Banana Slugs have been led this season by Annick Lamb, who has 10 goals and 2 assists. Whitworth and UCSC met last season in early September and finished in a 1-1 tie.

Puget Sound earned the NWC's automatic bid to the tournament by winning its sixth straight conference title. The Loggers' Janece Levien leads the league in scoring this season with 21 goals and three assists.

Cal Lutheran finished fourth in the final Southern California Intercollegiate Athletics Conference regular season standings, but came alive in the conference tournament to win the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The Regals are led by Aubrie Smith's 9 goals and one assist.

Should Whitworth advance to Sunday's second round, that match will start at 1:00 p.m. All games will be played on East Athletic Field at UPS. Tickets are $6/$3/$2 as per NCAA regulations.