Alfred – For the first time in 28 years the
Alfred University football team is heading to the NCAA Division III National Tournament.
The Saxons earned a share of the Empire 8 Conference on Saturday after their 56-30 win over
Utica. It’ll be AU’s second NCAA tournament appearance ever and its first since 1981 when Alfred lost to
Montclair State at home in the first round.
Next Saturday the Saxons will host Albright College (9-1) in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Lions haven’t made it this far since 1996 and have played Alfred only three times with their last meeting coming in 1955. AU is 2-1 all-time against Albright since their first outing in 1929.
If the Saxons (8-1, 4-1 Empire 8) beat Albright, they will take on the winner of Saturday’s contest between second-seeded Delaware Valley and seventh-seeded Susquehanna. On the other side of the bracket you've got top-seeded Mount Union, a team that's won 9 of the last 13 national titles. MU will host eighth-seeded Washington & Jefferson and fourth-seeded Montclair State plays host to fifth-seeded Maine Maritime.
If AU defeats Albright, the Saxons would play the winner of the Delaware Valley-Susquehanna game on Saturday, Nov. 28. If Delaware Valley wins, they would host Alfred; if Susquehanna wins, AU would host the second-round game.
Stay tuned to WETM-18 Sports for the latest on the Saxons playoff run.
