For the eighth year in a row Notre Dame is headed to the NCAA Tournament.
Head coach Bobby Clark has brought his troops to the tournament every year since taking over in 2000.
The Irish learned Monday that they would be the No. 12 seed this year. Notre Dame finished the regular season ranked ninth in the country, but slipped slightly because of a 2-1 loss to South Florida in the Big East semi-finals on Sunday.
The 16 tops teams in the 48-team tournament all receive first round byes. This is the fifth time that the Irish have sat out the first round.
Last year Notre Dame was the No. 10 seed and advanced to the quarterfinal round before a 1-0 overtime loss to eventual champion Wake Forest.
The first round bye also insures at least one home game for the Irish in the tournament. Notre Dame will take on the winner of the Northwestern-Loyola (Ill.) game to be played this weekend.
The winner of that game will travel to Alumni Field next Tuesday night. Notre Dame is undefeated at home this year with a 9-0-1 record. They currently have a 13-game unbeaten streak on their own turf. that dates back to a 3-2 loss to Indiana on Oct. 17, 2007.
Four other Big East teams will join Notre Dame in the tournament this year.
St John's was awarded the No. 3 spot and South Florida was given the eighth seed.
Wake Forest once again led the way this year picking up the No. 1 seed.
