CENTERVILLE, Mass. -- The University of New England softball team has been selected as the No. 3 seed for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Championship, and is slated to host No. 6 Rivier College in the first round on Wednesday (May 11) at 4 p.m. The ECAC released the tournament schedule for the seven-team field this afternoon.

The Nor'easters enter the championship with an overall mark of 27-17, after reaching the final day of competition for The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) crown. Rivier, their opponent in the opening round, carries a 26-14 record into the first-ever contest between the teams. The Raiders made a deep run in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tourney, before falling in the final to Saint Joseph's (Maine).

2011 ECAC Division III New England Softball Championship

First Round | Biddeford, Maine

Wednesday, May 11 | 4:00 p.m.

#3 University of New England (27-17) vs. #6 Rivier College (26-14)

With a record of 27-12-1, Keene State College has earned the No. 1 seed in the tournament, along with a first-round bye, and will host play on both Saturday and Sunday in the double elimination phase of the championship.

In Wednesday's other opening round match-ups, No. 2 Brandeis University (18-17) will host seventh-seeded Elms College (22-14), and fifth-seeded Simmons College (24-15) is set to visit No. 4 Western New England (27-17).

The three winners from the first round will join the top-ranked Owls on Saturday, for a day that will feature four games and one eliminated squad. The remaining three teams will return to action on Sunday to determine the champion.


To view the championship bracket, click HERE.