DULUTH, Minn. -- Kyrie Jorgenson (Decorah, Iowa/Decorah)'s (Decorah, Iowa/Decorah) unassisted goal in the 48th minute of Saturday's UMAC Tournament Championship put the Eagles over the College of St. Scholastica 1-0, earning Northwestern the conference's first automatic qualifier into the NCAA Tournament, which begins next week.  The women's soccer team is the first-ever Northwestern program to be invited to the NCAA postseason after the institution became a full member of Division III prior to the 2008-09 academic year.

Neither team scored in the first period of Saturday's championship game, although the Saints had several opportunities as St, Scholstica took advantage of the wind behind them.  With the teams switching sides at halftime, NWC had the wind, and the momentum, at its back when Jorgenson's shot from inside the box landed in the back of the net.  The Eagle defense did its job from there, continuing to play shutout soccer for the reminder of the game until the final whistle.

Top-seeded and UMAC regular season champion St. Scholastica owned a 14-9 advantage in shots, but the second-seeded Eagles put more attempts on goal, 4-3.  Northwestern's Tara Hanson (Andover, Minn./Meadow Creek Christian) (Andover, Minn./Andover) posted three saves throughout the brisk 90-minute contest to advance the 13-8 Eagles to the NCAA postseason.

Jorgenson was named the tournament's most valuable player following Saturday's game.

The NCAA Tournament bracket will be announced during a selection show on Monday at 8 a.m. CST.  Watch the selection show here.  Northwestern's first round game will be on Thursday or Friday afternoon.

Stay tuned to this page for more details as they become available.