STANDISH, ME - The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2009 tournament seedings, and Saint Joseph's College (29-13) has been selected as the third seed for the upcoming ECAC Division III New England Softball Championship. The Lady Monks will host #6 Plymouth State (22-16) on Wednesday at 4:00 PM in a seven inning first round contest at Ward Park.

St. Joe's, the #2 seed in the GNAC Tournament, fell short in the conference tournament last weekend with a 2-1 loss to top-seeded Emerson College in the championship game. The Lady Monks will be making their second consecutive appearance in the ECAC Tournament. Keene State defeated St. Joe's, 4-0, in a first round contest in 2008.

2008 tourney winner Brandeis (25-15) was selected as the number one seed for the 2009 tournament, which consists of an eight-team field with a quarterfinal round followed by a double-elimination format for the remaining four teams.

Other first round contests on Wednesday include #8 Curry (27-16) at Brandies, #7 Salve Regina (25-19) at #2 Keene State (26-14), and #5 Lesley (27-13) at #4 Western New England (29-4). All first round games are scheduled to begin at 4:00 PM.

The first-round winners will advance to play on Saturday, May 9, at the highest remaining seed. The winner of Brandeis/Curry will face the winner of Western New England/Lesley at TBD a.m. in Game 1 of the double elimination format, and the winner of Keene State/Salve Regina will play the winner of Saint Joseph's/Plymouth State at TBD p.m. in Game 2. The loser of Game 1 and the loser of Game 2 will play an elimination game (Game 3) at TBD p.m. The winner of Game 1 and the winner of Game 2 will square off in the Winner's Bracket (Game 4) at TBD p.m. On Sunday, May 10 (Game 5) will feature with winner of Game 3 and the loser of Game 4 in an elimination game at TBD p.m. The Game 4 winner and the Game 5 winner will meet for the championship at TBD p.m. If necessary, a Game 7 will be played immediately following Game 6 to complete the double elimination format.

2009 ECAC DIVISION III New England Softball Championship

First Round - Wednesday, May 6

No. 8 Curry (27-16) at No. 1 Brandeis (25-15), 4 p.m.
No. 7 Salve Regina (25-19) at No. 2 Keene State (26-14), 4 p.m.
No. 6 Plymouth State (22-16) at No. 3 Saint Joseph's (29-13), 4 p.m.
No. 5 Lesley (27-13) at No. 4 WNEC (29-4), 4 p.m.

Double Elimination (Day 1) - Saturday, May 9 at highest remaining seed

Game 1: Brandeis/Curry winner vs. WNEC/Lesley winner, 11 a.m.
Game 2: Keene State/Salve Regina winner vs. Saint Joseph's/Plymouth State winner, 1p.m.
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m.

Double Elimination (Day 2) - Sunday, May 10

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, TBD
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD p.m.
Game 7 (if necessary): Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBD p.m.