INDIANAPOLIS --- The Tusculum College men's soccer team has earned the number three seed in the Southeast Region and will face Lenoir-Rhyne University in the opening round of the 2016 NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament Thursday at 7 p.m. at Misenheimer, North Carolina.
2016 NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament bracket
The winner of Thursday's match between Tusculum and Lenoir-Rhyne will play the second-seeded host Pfeiffer University, the defending NCAA Division II champions, on Saturday at 7 p.m. in a second-round contest.
The Pioneers are making their fifth appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament and first since 2008, when Tusculum lost 3-2 in double overtime to Tampa in the Elite Eight. All-time, the Pioneers are 4-4 in the NCAA tournament including trips to the national quarterfinals in both 2004 and 2008.
Tusculum (16-3-0) earned the number-three seed in the region by winning three matches in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament, including a pair of double-overtime victories. The Pioneers defeated Lincoln Memorial 2-1 in extra time on Sunday to clinch the program's record sixth SAC Tournament title and second in the last three years.
Lenoir-Rhyne (11-4-3) was eliminated from the SAC Tournament in penalty kicks by Coker in the quarterfinals, after finishing in third place in the conference with a 7-3-1 record. The Bears and Pioneers met in Greeneville on Sept. 17, with Tusculum coming away with a 2-1 victory. Lenoir-Rhyne's only other appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament came in 2004.
Pfeiffer (18-2-0) outscored its opponents 17-2 in three matches to win its third straight Conference Carolinas Tournament championship. The Falcons, who went 25-0-0 last season to capture the program's first national championship, lost 3-2 in overtime at Tusculum when the teams met in a non-conference match on Sept. 28.
Saturday's winner will advance to the third round of the NCAA Division II Tournament to play the survivor from the other half of the Southeast Region for the region championship. Wingate is the number one seed in the region and will play Sunday against the winner of Friday's first-round match between fourth-seeded Limestone and fifth-seeded Lander.
Ticket information for this weekend's matches, including pricing and availability, will be announced Tuesday.
NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Southeast Regional
at Misenheimer, N.C.
First Round - Thursday, November 10
(6) Lenoir-Rhyne vs. (3) Tusculum, 7 p.m.
Second Round - Saturday, November 12
Lenoir-Rhyne/Tusculum winner at (2) Pfeiffer, 7 p.m.
at Wingate, N.C.
First Round - Friday, November 11
(5) Lander vs. (4) Limestone, 7 p.m.
Second Round - Sunday, November 13
Lander/Limestone winner at (1) Wingate, 1 p.m.
