The Hofstra University women will host Loyola Chicago in the first round of the NCAA Division I women’s tournament at Hofstra Soccer Stadium Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Pride (15-3-2, 7-0-2) earned the Colonial Athletic Association’s automatic bid to the tournament, topping sixth-seeded James Madison University, 5-1, at home to win the conference title for the third consecutive season and sixth time overall.

The NCAA appearance is Hofstra’s eighth in program history and fourth in the past five seasons. Hofstra is 3-7-1 all-time in NCAA tournament play. Last season, the Pride dominated No. 22 Boston College in the first round, 4-1, before falling to No. 23 University of Wisconsin, 6-0 in the second round. Hofstra never has faced Loyola Chicago.

Hofstra, which is receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Association top 25 poll, enters the tourney on a 15-match unbeaten streak and four-game winning streak. Since Hofstra’s unbeaten streak began Sept. 8, it has outscored opponents, 41-14.

Loyola Chicago (14-4-1) earned the Missouri Valley Conference automatic bid.

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.