ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Griffon Soccer (12-2-7, 6-2-4 MIAA) has been selected to the NCAA Central Region Tournament for a second consecutive season and the third time in program history.

MoWest earned the No. 5 seed and will face No. 4 seed and MIAA rival Washburn (11-3-4, 8-0-4 MIAA) on Friday at 10 a.m. at the Maverick Soccer Complex, also known as The Pitch, in Mankato, Minnesota. Ticket information and a complete look at the bracket can be found here.

MoWest played Washburn to a 0-0 draw in Topeka back on Nov. 2. This marks the 30th all-time meeting with the Ichabods and the first ever in the NCAA tournament. It's the first time ever that MoWest will see an MIAA foe in the national tournament. The Griffs seek their first win over the Ichabods in that series since Oct. 2021.

Washburn, ranked No. 16 in the United Soccer Coaches' Poll, made it through the MIAA regular season undefeated before being upset by No. 7 seed Emporia State, 3-2, in the first round of the MIAA tournament.

The Griffons earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament this season after a 2-1 overtime win against Central Oklahoma in the MIAA tournament championship played this past Saturday in Wichita, Kansas.

MoWest has leaned on its defense this season, shutting out 12 opponents (t-4th nation) and allowing just 10 goals this season (t-5th nation).

MoWest earned an at-large bid to the Central Region bracket in 2024 and won its first ever NCAA tournament match, knocking off Concordia-St. Paul, 2-1, before falling, 1-0, to regional host and eventual national runner-up Minnesota State-Mankato.