Westminster, Loras set to lock up in NCAA opener

The Blue Jays' first-round opponent in the NCAA Division III tournament will be a familiar one.

Westminster will play the eighth-ranked Loras (Iowa) College Duhawks at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Rock Bowl Stadium in Dubuque, Iowa.

The Duhawks handed the Blue Jays a season-ending 2-0 loss in last season's sectional round on Nov. 23, 2013.

The Blue Jays (11-7-1) claimed their second straight NCAA bid by defeating the Fontbonne Griffins 3-1 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship game last Saturday at Westminster Field.

Loras (15-2-2) fell to No. 23 Wartburg in penalty kicks in the Iowa Conference tournament championship game last Saturday.

The winner of this game will play the victor between Gustavus (Minnesota) Adolphus College and Dominican (Illinois) University in a second-round game at 5 p.m. on Sunday.