Photo: Lily Chubb/Noozhawk Photo
Last night, UC Irvine became the first team to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament with their 2-1 win over UC Santa Barbara. The rest of the conference finals start today and will wrap up on Sunday night. By the end of this weekend the NCAA Tournament bracket should be far more clear with Selection Monday right around the corner. Plenty of bubble teams are in their conference finals this weekend giving them an opportunity to avoid the selection process altogether.
Here are quick previews for each Division I men’s soccer conference final:
ACC
#1 Virginia vs #7 SMU (in Cary, NC) – Sunday 1 PM ET
Virginia will be aiming to lock down one of the top four seeds in the NCAA Tournament with an ACC Championship win. It would also give the Cavaliers the ACC double. SMU will be looking for its first ACC Championship in any sport.
Top goal contributors
Virginia: Nicholas Simmonds – Freshman – Forward – 14 (9g/5a)
SMU: Stephan Soghomonian – Sophomore – Forward – 13 (12g/1a)
America East
#2 Bryant at #1 Vermont – Sunday 1 PM ET
Two teams in our top 25 coaches’ poll face off to decide the America East Title. Vermont is the only remaining undefeated team in Division I men’s soccer, and Bryant’s only loss this season is against Vermont. Both teams will be aiming to clinch the title and earn a top seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Top goal contributors
Vermont: Ismail David – Senior – Forward – 12 (9g/3a)
Bryant: Jaime Amaro – Sophomore – Midfielder – 17 (10g/7a)
American
#2 Florida Atlantic vs #4 FIU (in Charlotte, NC) – Saturday 6 PM ET
Both of these Florida teams will be desperate for a win as they are likely bubble teams based on their RPI, and neither is ranked. This will likely be a win and in for the NCAA Tournament, with the losing team nailbiting on selection day.
Top goal contributors
Florida Atlantic: Mamadou Diarra – Graduate Student – Forward – 12 (6g/6a) and Oliver Moller-Jenson – Junior – Forward – 12 (6g/6a)
FIU: Eduardo Mustre – Graduate Student – Forward – 7 (6g/1a)
Atlantic 10
#3 Dayton at #1 Saint Louis – Sunday 1 PM ET
Saint Louis is currently one of our coaches’ poll top 25 and also has several quality results and solid standing in RPI, so their placement in the NCAA Tournament should be decently secured, but never guaranteed. Dayton, on the other hand, will be looking at the A10 Championship as their route into the NCAA bracket.
Top goal contributors
Saint Louis: Theo Franca – Freshman – Forward – 4 (4g/0a)
Dayton: Ethan Sassine – R-Senior – Forward – 11 (8g/3a)
Atlantic Sun
(#1 Gold Div.) Bellarmine at (#1 Graphite Div.) North Florida – Saturday 7 PM ET
Both teams will be looking to secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning the conference championship, as this will likely be the only avenue for an Atlantic Sun team.
Top goal contributors
North Florida: Jaylen Yearwood – Senior – Defender – 7 (1g/6a) and Kaiss Mansouri – Sophomore – Forward – 7 (2g/5a)
Bellarmine: Johan Nissen-Lie – Sophomore – Forward – 9 (9g/0a) and Nick Harshaw – Sophomore – Midfielder – 9 (4g/5a)
Big East
#1 Georgetown vs #3 Connecticut (in Boyds, MD) – Sunday 12 PM ET
Georgetown and Connecticut have earned quality results and are high in the RPI standings. Additionally, Georgetown is ranked in the top 15 in our coaches’ poll. They should both end up in the NCAA Tournament. However, the winner of the Big East Title could decide a seeded place and a Round 1 bye.
Top goal contributors
Georgetown: Zach Zengue – Senior – Midfielder – 24 (13g/11a)
Connecticut: Austin Brummett – Senior – Forward – 11 (8g/3a)
Big South
#2 Gardner-Webb at #1 High Point – Saturday 6 PM ET
High Point’s place in the NCAA Tournament looks to be secured, but they will be aiming for the Big South double and a seeded position with a Round 1 bye. Gardner-Webb is a bubble team and will be aiming for a win to secure its place in the bracket.
Top goal contributors
High Point: Daniel Lugo – R-Sophomore – Forward – 17 (13g/4a)
Gardner-Webb: Samson Kpardeh – Sophomore – Forward – 10 (8g/2a) and Robbie Lyons – Graduate Student – Midfielder – 10 (5g/5a)
Big Ten
#3 Michigan vs #4 UCLA (in College Park, MD) – Sunday 3 PM ET
Michigan is ranked in our coaches’ poll and looks to have its place in the NCAA Tournament secured. UCLA is a bubble team based on its RPI, so the Bruins will be looking for security with an automatic bid.
Top goal contributors
Michigan: Michael Ramirez – Sophomore – Forward – 10 (5g/5a)
UCLA: Sergi Solans Ormo – R-Sophomore – Forward – 18 (13g/5a)
Big West
#2 UC Irvine 2 #1 UC Santa Barbara 1
UC Irvine clinched the Big West title and the first NCAA Tournament automatic bid with their win against UC Santa Barbara last night. Based on RPI, UC Santa Barbara will likely be on the outside looking in, as they do not appear to have enough quality wins to receive an at-large bid.
Coastal Athletic Association
(#2 North Div.) Stony Brook at (#1 South Div.) Elon – Sunday 2 PM ET
Stony Brook and Elon both look like they are on the outside looking in based on RPI, so they will be hunting for that automatic bid in the CAA Title match on Sunday. Whoever wins is in.
Top goal contributors
Elon: Martin Kozak – Junior – Midfielder/Forward – 12 (4g/8a)
Stony Brook: Finlay Oliver – Junior – Forward – 12 (8g/4a)
Horizon League
#2 Purdue Fort Wayne at #1 Cleveland State – Saturday 1 PM ET
This is another win and in conference as neither of these teams is ranked high enough to earn an at-large bid. Cleveland State will be looking for the conference double.
Top goal contributors
Cleveland State: Uzman Ramees – Freshman – Midfielder – 9 (4g/5a)
Purdue Fort Wayne: Shane Anderson – Graduate Student – Forward – 15 (9g/6a)
Ivy League
#2 Cornell at #1 Princeton – Sunday 11 AM ET
Both these Ivy League programs should have their place in the NCAA Tournament secured. Princeton will be looking to secure a top-four spot in the bracket, and Cornell will be looking to secure a seeded place with a win over a top opponent. Princeton is currently our coaches’ poll #4-ranked team, and Cornell is ranked #20, making this a big-time matchup to watch.
Princeton: Daniel Ittycheria – Senior – Forward – 11 (9g/2a)
Cornell: Sergio Zapata – Freshman – Forward – 9 (5g/4a)
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
#2 Siena at #1 Sacred Heart – Sunday 12 PM ET
This is another matchup where an automatic bid is likely the only way into the NCAA Tournament. Sacred Heart and Siena will also both be looking for their first MAAC Titles.
Top goal contributors
Sacred Heart: David Garcia Gallego – Senior – Midfielder – 12 (6g/6a)
Siena: Lucas Almeida – Junior – Forward – 14 (9g/5a)
Missouri Valley Conference
#6 Western Michigan at #1 Evansville – Saturday 7 PM ET
Western Michigan has been on a magical run to get to the final and give itself a chance at an automatic bid. Evansville will also need to hold off the Mustangs to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament based on RPI.
Top goal contributors
Evansville: Andres Escudero – Freshman – Forward – 13 (11g/2a)
Western Michigan: Braxton Arpachinda – Junior – Defender – 8 (4g/4a)
NEC
#2 Saint Francis at #1 FDU – Sunday 12 PM ET
NEC Title will be another automatic bid-only game, making this a scenario where everything is on the line with a win and in. Fairleigh Dickinson will be the favorites at home and are looking for the conference double.
Top goal contributors
FDU: Arnau Rabassa Guillamon – Senior – Midfielder – 14 (11g/3a)
Saint Francis: Alex De Nittis – Junior – Forward – 8 (5g/3a)
Ohio Valley Conference
#2 Houston Christian at #1 Lindenwood – Saturday 8:30 PM ET
HCU and Lindenwood will both be eyeing the OVC Title as their way into the NCAA Tournament, as neither has the RPI or quality wins needed to make it as an at-large team. Lindenwood is looking for the conference double.
Top goal contributor
Lindenwood: Matteo Landais – Graduate Student – Midfielder – 14 (5g/9a)
Houston Christian: Ryan Okerayi – Junior – Forward – 11 (9g/2a) and Joby Reid – Freshman – Forward – 11 (5g/6a)
Patriot League
#6 Lafayette at #2 Lehigh – Saturday 6 PM ET
Another conference title game where the only way in for the two teams is a win and the automatic bid that comes with it. Lafayette is on a Cinderella story run and will be looking to finish it off with one last tough road win against Lehigh.
Top goal contributors
Lehigh: Giacoma Zizza – Sophomore – Midfielder – 13 (4g/9a)
Lafayette: Samir Dishnica – Junior – Midfielder – 9 (6g/3a)
Southern Conference
#3 UNCG at #1 Furman – Sunday 2 PM ET
Both of these Carolina teams should have their place in the NCAA Tournament secured, but a seeded place could be up for grabs with the conference title on the line. Furman is our coaches’ poll #13-ranked team, while UNCG sits at #22.
Top goal contributors
Furman: Diego Hernandez – Junior – Midfielder – 17 (9g/8a)
UNCG: Enzo Dovlo – Junior – Forward – 18 (10g/8a)
Summit League
#2 Kansas City at #1 Denver – Saturday 5 PM ET
Both these Summit League teams have a good chance of making the NCAA Tournament based on their RPI, but will be eyeing more with a conference title win. Denver will be looking to lock down the conference double.
Top goal contributors
Denver: Kyle McGowan – R-Junior – Forward – 9 (7g/2a)
Kansas City: Jeremy Francou – Junior – Forward – 12 (9g/3a)
Sun Belt
#5 UCF at #3 Marshall – Sunday 1:00 PM ET
Marshall should be locked into the NCAA Tournament based on their RPI and wins. UCF is a pure bubble team that will be keen and make up ground with a big result to secure their place. Marshall is currently #18 in our coaches’ poll.
Top goal contributors
Marshall: Carl Romberg – Junior – Forward – 9 (4g/5a)
UCF: Clarence Awoudor – Senior – Forward/Midfielder – 19 (6g/13a)
WAC
#3 Grand Canyon vs #4 San Jose State (in Riverside, CA) – Saturday 4 PM ET
Both of these teams are bubble teams so will feel they need a result to secure their place as an at-large bid does not look like a strong avenue into the NCAA Tournament.
Top goal contributors
Grand Canyon: Junior Diouf – Freshman – Forward – 22 (16g/6a)
San Jose State: Angel Iniguez – Senior – Midfielder – 15 (9g/6a)
WCC
Does not have a conference tournament. Conference standings decide the champion. Currently Oregon State is leading the WCC with one final game against San Diego. San Diego sits in second so that matchup will decide the WCC.
