Loyola College and Maryland are headed to the NCAA women's soccer tournament as expected.

But Navy (16-1-4), which was unbeaten until Friday's season finale, was surprisingly not invited yesterday when the pairings were announced for Friday's opening round.

The Mids had a dreamlike season until they were beaten by American University, 2-1 in double overtime, in the Patriot League tournament semifinals. Navy spent all season as one of the nation's top defensive teams and was one of the last two unbeaten squads in the country.

While there was shock and disappointment in Annapolis yesterday, there was jubilation around Loyola as the veteran Greyhounds (12-5-2) prepared for a second straight NCAA tournament.

Loyola will meet No. 10 West Virginia (17-2-1) at 7 p.m. Friday in Morgantown, W.Va.

"Last year [first-round loss to Princeton] we were ready to play, but did we really know what ready was?" said Loyola coach Joe Mallia. "This year we know more what to expect and 20 of 24 players and coaches going with us are the same ones who traveled with us last year."

Loyola is coming off a 3-0 victory over Rider on Sunday in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship game. Three Baltimore-area players, Becky Bieneman (Catholic), Jeannetta McGettigan (McDonogh) and Katie Elliott (Mount Hebron), scored for the Greyhounds in the shutout.

Virginia (11-6-2) will meet Dayton (17-3) in the other Morgantown game Friday at 4 p.m.; the winners will play Sunday.

Maryland (12-7-1) will play at home Friday night, meeting American University (10-8-2) at 7.30, and Penn State (15-3-1) faces Princeton (13-2-1) at 5 p.m. in the other game in College Park.