APPLETON, Wis. -- The Lawrence University women's soccer team will open its NCAA Division III Tournament journey against the University of Chicago on Friday.
    Lawrence (15-4-2) faces Chicago (10-6-2) in Grand Rapids, Mich., at Zuidema Field on the campus of Calvin University. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. Central time.
    Calvin is serving as the host for the four-team pod and the Knights take on Greenville University at 1 p.m. in the first round. The winners of Friday's games square off Saturday in the regional final at 4 p.m. Central time.
    The Vikings earned their spot in the tournament with a 2-1 overtime victory at Lake Forest College in the championship game of the Midwest Conference Tournament. Erica Grube scored in regulation, and Izzy Robertson netted the game-winner in overtime to beat the Foresters. The Vikings are on a seven-game win streak and have allowed only two goals during that stretch. 
    This will be the 12th meeting between Lawrence and Chicago and the first since 2004. The series began in 1986 with a 5-0 Lawrence victory, but the Maroons own an 8-2-1 advantage in the rivalry. The last meeting was a 5-1 Chicago victory in 2004.
    Lawrence is making its fourth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and its first since 2010. 
    The Vikings made their first appearance in 2000 and dropped a 2-0 decision at Albion College. Lawrence went back to the NCAA Tournament in 2001 and became the first team in Midwest Conference history to win a game in the NCAA women's soccer tournament. Lawrence defeated Aurora University 2-1 at Whiting Field West and then fell at Willamette University in the second round. Lawrence's last appearance in the tournament was in 2010 when the Vikings lost 3-0 at Wheaton (Ill.) College in the opening round.