The 2004 NCAA Division III Women’s Tournament field was announced this evening with no real surprises.
Manhattanville (23-2-2), the champions of the ECAC East, was awarded the No. 1 seed and the bye straight into the Frozen Four. Manhattanville’s home facility of Playland Ice Casino did not meet the NCAA criteria for hosting the Frozen Four, so Manhattanville will not get that typical associated benefit of the bye. The site of the Frozen Four will be announced after next weekend’s games.
The Valiants will be playing the winner of the Wisconsin-Stevens Point (17-6-4) and Gustavus Adolphus (22-5-0) game next weekend. The NCHA and MIAC Champions will be playing at the home of the Gutsies.
The other half of the bracket finds two teams each from the NESCAC and ECAC West. In one semifinal Middlebury (21-4-0) will host the two-time defending champion, and winner of the ECAC West Tournament, Elmira Soaring Eagles (18-7-2). The other semifinal will see Plattsburgh (20-5-2) host the NESCAC Champion Bowdoin (20-4-1).
USCHO.com’s Bracketology predicted the entire field of participants as well as the correct matchups. The only difference in the actual field and USCHO’s Bracketology was the site of the Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Gustavus Adolphus game.
