The Dominican University women's soccer team, back in the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship Tournament for the second time in program history, has been paired with the Otterbein University Cardinals in the opening round of the 2018 NCAA Division III. The two teams will meet in Westerville, Ohio, on Friday night at 5:00 p.m. ET with the winner advancing to the regional championship round on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET.
 
The Stars, 18-2-0 overall, are riding an 18-match winning streak having surrendered just one goal since September 3 to go along with the nation's 11th-best offense, averaging 3.6 goals per contest.  On Saturday, the Stars earned their way into the national tournament with a thrilling 1-0 victory over the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks in overtime of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Tournament.  Josseline Williams headed home the game-winner in the 95th minute of play after Dominican dominated possession throughout the match, outshooting the Scarlet Hawks 19-3.
 
The Stars' attack features the one-two punch up top of Josseline Williams and Holli Cochran who have combined for 42 goals on the 2018 season.  Williams is tied for third in all of NCAA Division III women's soccer with 26 goals in 20 games while Cochran, a freshman, has logged 16 goals on her rookie campaign.  Tania Paez, a senior midfielder, complements Dominican's potent attack with eight goals and three assists for a total of 19 points.
 
Defensively, the Stars are anchored by youth on the back line with freshmen Danielle Mason, Gabby Green, Ashleigh Huerta and Daniela Tovar-Miranda all staples on Dominican's back line along with sophomore Maggie McClure in front of second-year goalkeeper Abbey Brown.  Dominican's defensive unit has posted 17 shutouts on the season with Brown credited with 12 of Dominican's clean sheets and a miniscule 0.38 goals against average.
 
Otterbein, 16-2-1, ran the table in the Ohio Athletic Conference, claiming the program's ninth regular-season title and then notching a sixth tournament crown with a thrilling 1-0 overtime win against Ohio Northern behind a goal from Priscilla Severance. The Cardinals have been stingy on defense, collecting 11 shutouts on the season while posting a 1.04 goals against average.
 
Up top, sophomore Bella Shivley leads the Otterbein attack with 16 goals and seven assists. Shivley was credited with the game-winner in the Cardinals' 1-0 win over Capital in the OAC semifinals.
 
Hope College and Bidgewater College make up the other two teams in the Westerville, Ohio, regional.  Both received at-large bids to the national tournament after getting upset in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and Old Dominion Athletic Conference tournaments respectively.  They will kick off at Otterbein's Memorial Stadium at approximately 7:30 p.m. Friday night, following the Dominican-Otterbein match.  The winners will then meet at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday evening with the winner moving on to next weekend's sectional rounds.
 
Ticket prices for the event will be $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors, and $3 for children.