INDIANAPOLIS --- The Tusculum College women's soccer team is returning to the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship for the first time since 2007, announced the NCAA with the release of the 48-team pairings Monday.

Tusculum (14-4-3) earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 5 seed in the Southeast Region Tournament, and will square off against fellow South Atlantic Conference member Newberry College on Friday, November 13 in Jefferson City, Tenn. at 7 p.m.

The Pioneers are making the program's fifth appearance in the NCAA National Tournament, including four trips to the big dance in a five year span from 2003-2007. Tusculum posted a 14-3-3 record against Division II opponents and was ranked third in last week's NCAA Southeast Region rankings before advancing to the semifinal round of the Food Lion SAC Tournament last weekend.

Tusculum edged Newberry 1-0 in the teams' regular season matchup en route to a second-place finish in the SAC with a 6-2 in-conference record. The winner of Tusculum's match against Newberry will face Carson-Newman, the host school and top seed in the Southeast Regional, on Sunday, November 15 at 1 p.m.

- TC -

Friday, November 13, 2009 (Carson-Newman College - Jefferson City, Tenn.)

No. 5 Tusculum vs. No. 4 Newberry, 7 p.m.

Sunday, November 15, 2009 (Carson-Newman College - Jefferson City, Tenn.)

Tusculum/Newberry vs. No. 1 Carson-Newman, 1 p.m.