INDIANAPOLIS – The Southern New Hampshire University men's soccer team gathered its 25th NCAA Championship tournament berth and found out, as the No. 1 seed, it will host a Super Regional pod for the second straight year when the NCAA Selection Committee announced its field of 40 teams Monday evening.
Southern New Hampshire (14-2-2), which received an at-large bid, earns Super Region 1's top seed and a first-round bye. It is the first time under the current format that the SNHU has claimed the top seed and the first time the Penmen have been the No. 1 seed since 2015. SNHU will host a three-team pod as one of four hosts of Super Region 1. Eighth-seeded Post University (9-2-7) will take on the ninth-seeded University of Bridgeport (8-4-8) at Mark A. Ouellette on Friday (Nov. 21) at 3 p.m., with the winner meeting the Penmen on Sunday (Nov. 23) at 3 p.m. Bridgeport upset top-seeded Post in the CACC Championship title match Saturday to earn the automatic qualifier.
If SNHU were to prevail, it would host the winner of fourth-seeded Charleston (W.Va.) University (16-0-4) and fifth-seeded Adelphi University (9-5-4) on Sunday, Nov. 30. The Dec. 6 quarterfinals will be hosted by the highest remaining seed in Super Region 1.
The semifinals and final will be played Dec. 12 and 14 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, Colo.
SNHU will be making its 25th appearance, overall, in the NCAA Championship and carries in an all-time record of 21-17-7 (.544). The Penmen tied Post, 1-1, but fell on penalty kicks (7-6) in their first NCAA postseason meeting last season. In the regular season this year, SNHU again played to a 1-1 draw at home with the Eagles on Sept. 10. SNHU lost, 1-0, against Bridgeport in their only NCAA tournament meet-up back in 1990. It defeated the Purple Knights, 3-1, at home on Sept. 17 during the regular season this year.
Tickets prices for each day of tournament play will be $10 for adults, and $8 for seniors and children (ages 2-12). Children under the age of 2 will be admitted free with a paying adult. SNHU students, faculty and staff with an ID will be admitted free, courtesy of Tru by Hilton Manchester Downtown (135 Spring Street, Manchester). Tickets will go on sale 90 minutes before each match and will be available at the ticket booth at the entrance to Ouellette Stadium. Cash and credit cards are accepted. Per NCAA policy, no complimentary admissions will be issued.
Continue to check SNHUPenmen.com and all of the Penmen social media outlets for more information on the NCAA Division II Championship.
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