Both Soccer Teams Earn Top Seeds in Upcoming NCAA Tournaments
Men's Interactive Bracket
Women's Interactive Bracket
INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 5, 2012) – The NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Soccer Committees released the 2012 NCAA Tournament fields this evening, and the LIU Post soccer teams received the top seeds in the East Region in both the men's tournament and the women's tournament.
Due to the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which has left parts of Long Island without power and facing shortages on gas, the Pioneers are unable to host either of the regional competitions.
First round competition begins on Friday, Nov. 9, while the second round games will take place on Sunday, Nov. 11. The two finalists in each region will advance to the third- and quarterfinal-round competition to be played Friday, Nov. 16 and Sunday, Nov. 18. The semifinals and championship games will be played and Nov. 29 and Dec. 1 at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Ga., and will be hosted by the Peach Belt Conference.
On the women's side, the Pioneers were awarded a bid in the 48-team tournament field for the second time in the past three seasons. The top seeded Pioneers earn a bye to the second round, held at Southern New Hampshire in Manchester, N.H., where they will face the winner of fourth-seeded Dowling (13-3-2) and fifth-seeded Southern New Hampshire (13-5-3), . In the other regional, host and second-seeded American International (13-3-2) earns a bye to the second round and will play the winner of defending National Champion Saint Rose (16-2-2) and Wilmington (13-6-2).
On the men's side, the top-seeded Pioneers earn a bye to Sunday's second round competition, hosted by the fourth-seeded University of Massachusetts-Lowell, facing the winner of the River Hawks (13-5-1) and Post University (13-3-5). At the other site, Southern New Hampshire (17-3) received the second seed and will take on the winner of third-seeded Merrimack (14-3-2) and sixth-seeded Franklin Pierce (11-5-2).
The LIU Post women's team, currently ranked fourth in the nation, sport a record of 15-2-2. The Pioneers' last regional appearance was in 2010, when the Pioneers advanced to the third round before losing a 1-0 contest to Saint Rose. LIU Post hosted the East Regional in both 2007 and 2008. In 2007, the Pioneers advanced to the third round after defeating Dowling College, 3-0, before falling to West Chester University in the third round in an overtime shootout. In 2008, LIU. Post lost a 1-0 heartbreaker in the second round to Bridgeport.
The LIU Post men's team is the second-ranked team in the nation and one of only four one-loss teams in the 35-team tournament. The Pioneers (18-1) are coming off a 3-2 victory over NYIT in the East Coast Conference Championship, and will make their second straight NCAA appearance. Last season, the Pioneers earned a first round victory over Nyack before a loss to SNHU in the second round.
NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP – EAST REGIONAL
(at Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, N.H.)
Friday, November 9
No. 4 Dowling (13-3-2) vs. No. 5 So. New Hampshire (13-5-3) – 3:00 pm
Sunday, November 11
No. 1 LIU-Post (15-2-2) vs. SNH/DOW winner – 12:00 pm
(at American International College, Springfield, Mass.)
Friday, November 9
No. 3 Saint Rose (16-2-2) vs. No. 6 Wilmington (Del.) (13-6-2) – 1:00 pm
Sunday, November 11
STR/WIL vs. No. 2 American International (13-3-2) – 1:00 pm
NCAA DIVISION II MEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP – EAST REGIONAL
(at UMass Lowell, Lowell, Mass.)
Friday, November 9
No. 4 UMass Lowell (13-5-1) vs. No. 5 Post (13-3-5) – 7:00 pm
Sunday, November 11
No. 1 LIU-Post (18-1) vs. UML/Post winner – 4:00 pm
(at Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, N.H.)
Friday, November 9
No. 3 Merrimack (14-3-2) vs. No. 6 Franklin Pierce (11-5-2) – 6:00 pm
Sunday, November 11
No. 2 So. New Hampshire (17-3) vs. MER/FPU winner -3:00 pm