March 6, 2011

Boston University and Boston College will both host NCAA tournament games on Saturday

Wakefield, Mass. -- The NCAA Division I Women's Ice Hockey Committee announced on Sunday night via a live online announcement that WHEA Tournament Champion Boston College and Boston University have qualified for the 11th annual NCAA Tournament, which begins with quarterfinal play this coming weekend on the campuses of the high seeds.

No. 4 seed Boston College (23-6-6) will host WCHA foe Minnesota (26-9-2) on Saturday, March 12 at Conte Forum (1pm). The Eagles earned their third trip to the NCAA Tournament in school history after they came out victorious in the WHEA Championship Game on Sunday in the 3-1 victory against Northeastern at Walter Brown Arena, as Hockey East's automatic qualifier. BC's Kelli Stack (Brooklyn Heights, Ohio) was named Pure Hockey Most Vaulable Player of the tournament with three points (1g,2a) in two points. The Eagles also qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2009 and 2007 via at-large bids. BC owns a 1-2 all-time record in the NCAA Tournament, which included it's first-ever trip to the Frozen Four in 2007. Visit www.bceagles.com for ticket information.

No. 3 seed Boston University (25-6-4) entertains CHA opponent Mercyhurst (29-5-0) in a rematch of last year's first round NCAA game, on Saturday afternoon, March 12 at Walter Brown Arena (3pm) in Boston. The Terriers, who earned their first at-large bid in the tournament, fell in the WHEA semifinals to Northeastern, 4-2, on Saturday afternoon. BU is 0-1 all-time in the NCAA tournament. The Terriers made their debut last year and suffered a 4-1 loss to top-seeded Mercyhurst. Tickets for the game will be $5 for adults and $3 for students, children and senior citizens. For more information, contact the Agganis Arena Ticket Office, which is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 617-353-4628.

The quarterfinal winners advance to the 2011 Women's Frozen Four, hosted by Mercyhurst College on March 18 and 20, at Louis J. Tullio Arena in Erie, Pennsylvania.

For more information regarding the National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Championship, log on to www.NCAA.com.