| Messiah College Falcons (No. 9 NSCAA / No. 5 D3Soccer.com) |
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Location: Grantham, Pa.
Coach: Brad McCarty (9th season, 184-13-9 at Messiah entering the weekend)
2017 Record: 18-2, 8-0 MAC Commonwealth
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 28th (2000—present)
Last NCAA Tournament Result: 2016 Sectional Semifinal, lost 2-1 (OT) to Calvin. |
How the Falcons got here: The Falcons, ranked No. 9 in the most recent USC Top 25 Poll, enter the Tournament with an 18-2 overall record, and they went 8-0 in the MAC Commonwealth regular-season. Messiah's selection comes by way of an at-large bid after they were upset by Lycoming in the MAC Commonwealth Championship on Saturday, 2-1. Messiah is 10-time National Champions and they're appearing in their 28th Tournament.
What to Know About the Falcons: Prior to getting upset in the conference final last weekend the Falcons were riding a 16-game win streak—their sixth-longest streak in program history—with 13 shutouts … Messiah has allowed just 10 goals this season, and their goals against average of 0.490 is good for No. 11 in the nation … keeper Connor Bell's 0.519 goals against average is No. 14 among all Division III goalies … the Falcons average 17.5 shots per game, almost 10 more than their opponents (7.7) and they earn nearly three-times as many corners (126-43) … MAC Commonwealth Offensive Player of the Year Kirby Robbins (13g, 6a) leads four double-digit scorers with 32 points , and he is second on the team with five game-winners … Nick West (11g, 4a) is second on the team in points, and third in winners (4), with Colby Thomas (8g, 9a) leading the way with six game-winning goals … the Falcons have allowed more than five shots on goal to their opponents in just twice in their past 14 games.
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| Castleton State University Spartans |
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Location: Castleton, Vt.
Coach: John O'Connor (5th season, 56-34-10 at Castleton entering the weekend)
2017 Record: 12-6-2, 8-0-1 North Eastern Athletic Conference
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 4th (2004, 2007, 2008, 2017)
Last NCAA Tournament Result: 2008 First Round, lost 2-0 to Rochester
How the Spartans got here: Castleton State enters the Tournament by way of an automatic bid from the Northeast Athletic Conference. The Spartans defeated Colby-Sawyer 1-0 in the conference final, and they're in the NCAA postseason for the first time since 2008.
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What to Know About the Spartans: Castleton has six losses on the season, but five of those defeats came in the first six games of the season … the Spartans rebounded from the slow start to scoring 45 goals in their last 13 games of the regular-season and conference tournament … Seraphin Iradukunda (14g, 4a) leads the team with 32 points, and he took home NEAC Rookie of the Year honors … four other players are in double-digit scoring, including Fidele Rutayisire (7g, 3a) who has four game-winners—one less than the team lead by Iradunkunda … the Spartans averaged 18.2 shots per game overall with 52 total goals, but in conference-only games they averaged 23.9 shots with 36 total goals … NEAC Defensive Player of the Year Thomas Kirk leads the backline which has allowed 21 goals … Aaron Parker has started all 20 games for the Spartans in goal, and he holds a 1.11 goals against average and 0.798 save percentage.
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| Buffalo State University Bengals (No. 21 NSCAA / RV D3Soccer.com) |
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Location: Buffalo, N.Y.
Coach: Mark Howlett (5th season, 50-35-9 at Buffalo entering the weekend)
2017 Record: 14-2-3,
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 5th (1980, 1982—1984)
Last NCAA Tournament Result: 1984 First Round, lost 3-1 to RIT
How the Bengals got here: Buffalo State was upset in the SUNYAC Quartefinals by Geneseo, 2-0, and qualified for the NCAA Tournament via an at-large bid. The Bengals were recently ranked No. 21 in the USC Top 25 Poll, and their making their fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament, including their first since 1984.
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What to Know About the Bengals: Prior to their loss against Geneseo the Bengals were unbeaten in 15 games (12-0-3) with nine shutouts … the Bengals received program-record nine All-SUNYAC honors, including Devonte Black who anchors a defense that allowed just 10 goals all season … Black, keeper Andreas Queen (school record 10 shutouts), and the team have earned a 0.508 goals against average that is No. 13 in Division III … Queen's 0.512 goals against average is also No. 13 in the nation … Luke Pavone (8g, 6a) leads the way with 22 points and four game-winners, and four others have scored exactly three goals … the Bengals' balanced attack has included seven different goal scorers in their past seven games, though they've tallied just 29 goals all season … the Bengals play aggressive and take chances, evidenced by 233 total fouls and 38 yellow cards this season, both the most of any team in this weekend's pod.
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| Hobart College Statesmen |
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Location: Geneva, N.Y.
Coach: Shawn Griffin (18th season, 194-109-39 at Hobart entering the weekend)
2017 Record: 10-4-4, 6-0-3 Liberty League
NCAA Tournament Appearance: 7th (1992, 2006—2009, 2011)
Last NCAA Tournament Result: 2011 First Round, lost 1-0 to Penn St.-Behrend
How the Statesmen got here: Hobart enters via an automatic bid from the Liberty League after defeating Vassar in the final, 2-0. The conference championship was their first since 2009, and this marks the Statesmen's first NCAA appearance since 2011. |
| What to Know About the Statesmen: Hobart has lost four games this season, but they started 0-2 and most recently have won three-straight … the Statesmen have tallied only 23 goals this season, but they've allowed only 13 goals against … six of their 10 wins have come by a single goal, including three 1-0 victories … over their active three-game win streak, Hobart has tallied six goals, the most of any three-game stretch all season … five different players have scored over the aforementioned three-game win streak … Hunter Critchlow (4g, 2a) leads the team with 10 points, and seven others have scored at least twice … Adrian Colmenares (2g), one of six players named All-Liberty League, and Patrick Schulz (2g) each have two game-winners … Alec Kaminer has started 13 games in goal—including seven of the past eight—and has collected a 0.67 goals against average and 0.824 save percentage. |
