There was a chance they'd play each other at the Rutland Herald Invitational back in early September, but it didn't happen.

The Bard College women's soccer team beat host Castleton and Kean lost to UMass-Boston in the first round. The next day, Bard drew with UMass-Boston and Kean beat Castleton. Then Bard and Kean went their separate ways.

The teams have taken the circuitious route back to each other. Bard is the No. 7 seed and Kean is No. 2 in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Metro/Upstate Division Championships in Wednesday night's first round game at Kean at 7:30 p.m.

This is Bard's fourth trip to the ECAC tournament, but its first since 2010. This is Kean's fourth straight trip to the ECAC tourney; the Cougars won the Metro Division title in 2012 and 2013. This year's tournament field is comprised of teams from both the Metro and Upstate Divisions.

Kean, a member of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), finished the regular season at 10-7-2, 5-2-2 in conference play. They are led by sophomore Kaitlyn Pallitto (Bayonne, NJ), who led the NJAC in goals and points. She has 13 goals and three assists, and a whopping six game-winning goals. She was recently named to the All-NJAC First Team.

Emily Jurcsek (Edison, NJ) produced 11 goals and three assists, coming off the bench in more than half of those contests. Jurcsek, sophomore defender Kelly Williamson (York, PA), and midfielder Angie Lopez (Rahway, NJ) made the All-NJAC Second Team. Senior midfielder Emily Martinelli (Marlton, NJ) and keeper KC Nunez (Fair Lawn, NJ) earned honorable mention.

It was Nunez who played spectacularly at the College of New Jersey Adidas Classic back on Sept. 12, when the Cougars stunned then fifth-ranked Johns Hopkins, 2-0. She had 11 saves.

Bard won its last three games to qualify for the ECAC Championships, finishing the regular season at 8-8-1. Avalon Qian (6 g, 0a) and Abbey Labrecque (5g, 2a) tied for the team scoring lead with 12 points apiece, and they each had two game-winners. Freshman defender Dylan McDonald has been stellar in back and has scored on direct kicks in two of Bard's last three games.

Labrecque and fellow seniors Isabel Keddy-Hector and Gina Lewis were named All-Liberty League Honorable Mention on Tuesday. Bard was also given the Coaching Staff of the Year Award.

Live Stats and Live Video are available for Wednesday's game, so follow it right here.

FIRST ROUND SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Nov. 11
No. 8 Lehman (14-3) at No. 1 NYU (12-5-1), 7 p.m.
No. 7 Bard (8-8-1) at No. 2 Kean (10-7-2), 7:30 p.m.
No. 6 Ramapo (9-6-1) at No. 3 Rutgers-Newark (13-8-1), 5 p.m.
No. 4 Stockton (12-3-7) at No. 5 Mount Saint Mary (14-7-2), 7 p.m.

SEMIFINALS
Saturday, Nov. 14
NYU/Lehman winner vs. Stockton/Mount Saint Mary winner, site, time TBA
Kean/Bard winner vs. Ramapo/Rutgers-Newark winner, site, time TBA

CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday, Nov. 15
Semifinal winners at home of highest remaining seed, time TBA