Navy knew its name would be called during the NCAA women’s soccer tournament selection show on Monday.

After all, the Midshipmen had earned an automatic berth by capturing the Patriot League tournament title on on Saturday.

Per tradition, the Navy women’s soccer players and coaches gathered in the Bo Coppedge Room of Alumni Hall on Monday afternoon to watch the selection show on NCAA.com. There were the usual hoots and hollers when it was announced Navy would face New Mexico in the first round.

The Patriot League champions will meet the Mountain West Conference champions next Tuesday, April 27 in Wilson, North Carolina. Navy and New Mexico, which have never met in women’s soccer, will have a 6 p.m. kickoff at the Gillette Soccer Complex.

“We’re super-excited. Personally, I’m super excited. This is everything I could have asked for my senior year,” senior midfielder Emily Keast said following the selection show.

Because of coronavirus, the entire NCAA tournament for women’s soccer is being played in the state of North Carolina.

In five previous appearances in the NCAA tournament, Navy always played at a school located within reasonable driving distance.

This year is different in another way too. The tournament field is 48 teams instead of the usual 64.

“This year’s selection show was exciting for just that reason. The NCAA had some leeway with scheduling opponents since we’re all going to be in the same venue,” Navy coach Carin Gabarra said.

“It’s going to be very exciting for two programs that know very little about each other to square off.”

New Mexico is led by coach Heather Dyche, who now owns a 64-38-10 record in six seasons.

She has led the Lobos to three appearances in the Mountain West Conference championship game, finally breaking through this year to claim the crown and earn the program’s first NCAA tournament berth since 2011.