NCAA to have games in opening rounds of women’s soccer tourney played at more campus sites

More campus sites for NCAA women’s soccer tourney

INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA has approved a plan that will put more first- and second-round games of the women’s Division I soccer tournament on campus sites.

The new format will start in the fall of 2011, with the first round held at 32 campus sites followed by the second round at 16 sites the next week.

Under the current format, the first two rounds are played at 16 campus sites in one weekend. The Division I Women’s Soccer Committee says it picked the new format to allow more teams to host first-round matches and lessen travel.

The third round and quarterfinals will be played at four campus sites and the semifinals and championship will continue to be played at a predetermined site.