Nov. 11--The NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament committee did DePaul no favors.
Despite an RPI of 20, rankings of 13 in the coaches' poll and 7 in the Soccer America poll and an unbeaten record, The Blue Demons drew fourth-seeded, Big Ten tournament champion Wisconsin at Madison for their opening round match Saturday night.
"We were hoping for a home game this weekend," Blue Demons' coach Erin Chastain said after the 64-team field and draw were announced Monday.
"I guess we have more work to do to earn respect. We feel we can play with anyone."
This is the third NCAA tourney appearance -- and second straight -- for Big East champion DePaul (16-0-4), which lost to Big Ten teams in the first round in both 2004 and 2013.
With geographic considerations usually figuring heavily in the draw, Chastain thought her team, which has three straight shutouts, would play either Valparaiso or Illinois State in the first round.
Valparaiso opens at Notre Dame, a fourth seed, while Illinois State surprisingly plays at South Florida.
The Redbirds (15-5) won a fourth straight Missouri Valley Conference tournament title. Notre Dame (12-5-2), a three-time NCAA champion and five-time runner-up, lost in the semis of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament but was among six ACC teams to make the NCAA field.
Only DePaul and Illinois State earned bids from their conferences.
