The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champion Monmouth University women visit Princeton University in the opening round of the NCAA Division I Tournament at Roberts Stadium Friday at 7 p.m.

Monmouth (15-3-2) earned the MAAC’s automatic bid to the tournament after defeating Manhattan College, 5-1, at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Nov. 1. Monmouth defeated Niagara University, 1-0, and Siena College, 3-1, prior to defeating the Jaspers in the title game. The Hawks earned the top seed in the MAAC Tournament after going 9-1-0 during the conference regular season.

The Tigers (14-2-0), ranked No. 13 in the nation, are making their 12th NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2015. Princeton has won its first-round match in each of its last two NCAA tournaments, at West Virginia in 2012 and at home against Boston College in 2015.

Princeton hosts Monmouth after claiming the Ivy League title. The Tigers went 6-1 in conference play, including winning the final three games of their season to finish at the top of the Ivy League standings. Princeton has outscored its opposition 6-1 over the three-game winning streak and 36-6 on the season.

Sophomore forward Abby Givens scored nine goals this season en route to earning first-team All-Ivy League honors. She was a two-time Ivy League player of the week honoree this season and registered three two-goal games this season, including in the 3-0 win over Monmouth Aug. 25.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.