The vertical Mason-Dixon line puts 38 teams in the East, and 23 in the West, reflecting the balance of power that usually reigns in the sport. The championship bid is not contingent upon winning one's division. The Crimson can lose the ECAC to a Cinderella team, but still be Eastern Champions based on its superior record throughout the year.

Everyone else gets to tune into the selection show as "on the bubble" teams.

Harvard must now compete with perennial powerhouses such as UNH and Brown just to get out of the East.

"We know it'll be a tough fight and we're going to have to work as hard as ever to get out of the East," Stone said. "Our girls are hard workers, and we're just happy that there is a clear and consistent selection method in place."

The NCAA plans on assessing the success of this year to determine if any changes to be made. Arthur indicated that a proposal was on the table to reduce the required number of teams need to have a championship to 28, allowing Division III to have its own National Championship.

Advantages

The sponsorship of the NCAA has beneficial effects for many reasons. The prestige of competing for an NCAA title is certainly understood by the participants.

Also, the NCAA brings with it certain funding benefits. It allocates funds for travel and a per diem stipend to cover costs of food for the athletes, as well as sponsoring the tournament and selecting the sites.