INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Committee announced on Monday night the field of 56 teams for the 2024 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship with the Columbus State University Women's Soccer program selected as one of two hosts for the Southeast Regional First and Second Rounds.
 
The Lady Cougars (19-0-1) earned automatic qualification as the Peach Belt Conference Tournament Champions and earned the right to host the regional this weekend after being ranked #1 in the Southeast Region.
 
Columbus State will match up against eighth-seeded Francis Marion (S.C.) who earned an automatic bid after securing the Conference Carolinas Tournament title over the weekend. CSU is one of four Peach Belt Conference teams in the 56-team field and will look to continue their positive form further into the postseason.
 
The Lady Cougars are 19-0-1 and are continuing a dominant run in the 2024 campaign. On their way to the NCAA National Tournament, CSU captured the 2024 PBC Regular Season and Tournament Titles, going 12-0 versus conference opponents this season.
 
Over the weekend, Columbus State captured the program's 10th tournament title with a 1-0 win over Flagler (Fla.). As for Francis Marion, they are riding a high with the dramatic win in the CC Tournament Finals. The Patriots are 12-2-4 this season, grasping onto a four-match winning streak.
 
Friday's meeting is just the seventh between Columbus State and Francis Marion. CSU holds a 5-1 record over FMU. The last time the two met was in 2021 season where the Lady Cougars captured an 8-0 victory in Florence, S.C.
 
The 56-team field will begin play with the First Round on Friday, Nov. 22, and the Second Round on Sunday, Nov. 24. Two matches will be played on Friday afternoon at the Walden Soccer Complex at Noon ET and 3 p.m. ET. Fourth-seeded Catawba (N.C.) and fifth-seeded Flagler will clash in the Noon ET match on Friday before the Lady Cougars and the Patriots kick-off at 3 p.m. ET.
 
The two winners of Friday's matchups will then meet in the NCAA Tournament Second Round on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.
 
Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) is the host for the second sub-regional site and welcome third-seeded North Georgia, sixth-seeded Wingate (N.C.), and seventh-seeded Lander (S.C.). Each finalist from the sub-regional sites will meet in the Third Round on Sunday, Dec. 1 to determine regional champions.
 
The Regional Champions will then meet in the Quarterfinal Round on Saturday, Dec. 7. The Semifinals and Championship Match will take place on Dec. 13 and 15 at the Sportsplex in Matthews, N.C.
 
For all information regarding the first and second rounds in Columbus, please visit our event website here.