INDIANAPOLIS --- The Tusculum University men's soccer team has earned the number four seed in the Southeast Region and will face fifth-seeded Queens University of Charlotte in the opening round of the 2018 NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament Friday at 7 p.m. at Young Harris, Georgia.
2018 NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament bracket
The Pioneers are making their sixth appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament and first since 2016, when Tusculum lost 3-1 to Lenoir-Rhyne in a first-round matchup. All-time, the Pioneers are 4-5 in the NCAA tournament including trips to the national quarterfinals in both 2004 and 2008. Friday's winner will face the top-seeded host Mountain Lions on Sunday at 1 p.m. in a second-round match.
Tusculum and Queens are no strangers to each other, with both teams members of the South Atlantic Conference. The Royals defeated the Pioneers 3-2 in Greeneville on Sept. 12, erasing a 2-0 deficit before scoring the winning goal with 16.4 seconds remaining in the second half. The teams have three wins apiece since Queens joined the SAC for the 2013 season, with the Royals winning the last two matches. Three of the six matchups have gone into overtime, with two wins for Queens and one for Tusculum.
The Pioneers also faced Young Harris this season, falling at home to the Mountain Lions by a score of 4-0 on Sept. 5. The Mountain Lions are 2-0-2 all-time against the Pioneers, tying at home last season before this year's road win.
Tusculum (12-6-1) was seeded third in the SAC Men's Soccer Championship tournament after finishing the regular season with a 6-3-1 league record. The Pioneers then won their third title in five years with wins over Wingate (3-1), Carson-Newman (2-0) and Anderson (2-1). The Pioneers' seven SAC Tournament championships are the most by any conference school.
Queens (10-5-1) tied for first place with Lenoir-Rhyne in the final SAC standings at 7-3-0, and was the second seed in the conference tournament. However, the Royals were upset 2-1 by Carson-Newman in the quarterfinal round of the SAC Tournament. The Royals are making their seventh appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament and first since 2013, with trips to the Elite Eight in 1999 and 2006.
Young Harris (16-0-1) is ranked second in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division II poll, and won the Peach Belt Conference regular-season and tournament championships. The Mountain Lions won their first 16 matches before playing to a 0-0 tie with Lander in the PBC championship game on Sunday, but won 5-4 in penalty kicks to claim the title. The Mountain Lions, who are the defending Southeast Region champions, are in the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in the last five years.
Sunday'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. Lander is the number two seed in the region and will play Sunday against the winner of Friday's first-round match between third-seeded Limestone and sixth-seeded Anderson.
Ticket information for this weekend's matches, including pricing and availability, will be announced Tuesday.
NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Southeast Regional
at Young Harris, Ga.
First Round - Friday, November 9
(5) Queens vs. (4) Tusculum, 7 p.m.
Second Round - Sunday, November 11
Tusculum/Queens winner at (1) Young Harris, 1 p.m.
at Greenwood, S.C.
First Round - Friday, November 9
(6) Anderson vs. (3) Limestone, 7 p.m.
Second Round - Sunday, November 11
Anderson/Limestone winner at (2) Lander, 1 p.m.