LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- The Covenant women's soccer team will head to Danville, Ky., and face Centre in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. at Amend Field on the campus of Centre College.

The Covenant-Centre winner advances to the second round on Saturday at 1 p.m. against the winner of Emory and Wittenberg. Live stats and video links will be available at athletics.covenant.edu/live and the women's soccer schedule page.

Covenant (13-5-2) claimed its first USA South title on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Piedmont on Emma Riggs' score in the 86th minute. The Scots are making their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the third national tournament in the program's history.

Centre (15-1-2), ranked 13th in Division III, earned an at-large berth to the tournament. It is the Colonels' 11th appearance all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

Covenant and Centre have met twice before, with the Colonels winning both meetings. Centre defeated Covenant, 4-1, on Aug. 30, 2019 at Amend Field in Danville. The Colonels have been nationally-ranked in both matchups.

Under 28th-year head coach Mark Duble, the Scots are making a third appearance in a national tournament. Covenant earned a trip to the 2006 NAIA Tournament and the 2009 NCCAA Tournament. The conference championship was the 13th in program history.

Kailey Burrell was named the USA South Tournament MVP after tallying four assists (on Covenant's five goals) in the tournament. The senior collected USA South Player of the Year honors and enters the weekend with 18 goals and seven assists on the year. She ranks 10th in the nation in goals, sixth in game-winning scores (seven), and 13th in total points (43).

Riggs, defender Nicole Graubard, and goalkeeper Lucy Sandhoff also garnered USA South All-Tournament honors aiding in the Scots' ride to a championship.

Defense has been the hallmark of this Covenant team all season. The Scots have set a program record with 12 shutouts and have surrendered just two goals over the last 13 matches. Sandhoff leads the USA South in save percentage (.856) and shutouts (eight). Hannah Bagby and Riley Amell collected All-USA South honors along with Sandhoff.

CONNECT WITH THE SCOTS

Be sure to follow the Scots all season long on athletics.covenant.edu and on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for up-to-date scores, news and other information.