Photo: Courtesy of Messiah Athletics

The regular season officially ended over the weekend. Some conferences started their playoffs, while other teams battle for final spots in their respective conference playoffs. We take a look at the matches of those who started post-season play Saturday, while also looking ahead to the semi-finals. For conferences whose post-season starts this week, we preview the semi-final matches. Look for a semi-finals recap and final match previews this Friday.

Conference finals take place this Saturday or Sunday ahead of the NCAA selection show on Monday, Nov. 11 at 1 pm. The all important automatic qualifiers (AQs) are up for grab this week. As per the pre-championship manual, 61 men’s soccer teams make the 2013 NCAA Tournament with three earning first-round byes.

As we shift into post-season coverage, the post’s format is slightly changing. From this point forward, the only teams mentioned will be those who made post-season play. However, once both conference and NCAA post-season play ends, a year-end recap of each conference will be published.

As always, let us know your thoughts, predictions, or suggestions below.

Capital Athletic Conference

Complete conference standings • Conference Tournament Bracket 

With CAC regular season play concluding last Wednesday, first-round matches took place Saturday.

No. 3 seed Christopher Newport vs. No. 6 Wesley College
Earlier this season, CNU shutout Wesley, but that was not the case Saturday. The Captains went up 2-0 early in the first half behinds goals from Caleb Lewis and Jack Cooper that were scored only 35 seconds apart. However, Wesley stormed back in the second half behind goals in the 50th and 54th minute from Will Melski and Danny Ramirez, respectively. But the Captains proved to be too much with Jalon Brown scoring the game-winner six minutes later. With the 3-2 win, CNU continues their CAC rookie season success and head coach Steve Shaw earned his 250th win. CNU will now face perennial powerhouse and No. 2 seed York College on Wednesday, Nov. 6 with the time time to be determined.

No. 4 seed Mary Washington vs. No. 5 seed Frostburg State
No.5 Frostburg State avenged an early season 2-0 loss against Mary Washington with a 1-0 CAC first-round win. Pablo Torrano scored the game-winner at the 48:08 mark to advance to their third-straight CAC semifinal round. Frostburg State will travel to No.1 seed Salisbury University on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at a yet to be determined time.

The winners of the semi-final game will meet Saturday in the final. The highest-seed remaining will host the final.

Centennial Conference

Complete conference standings • Conference championship information

At the end of the regular season, the top five teams advanced to the post-season conference championship. With the No.4/No.5 first round game taking place Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 7:00 pm, the semifinals and finals are being hosted by Haverford College. In order of seed, the following teams made the conference championship: Haverford, Swarthmore, Franklin and Marshall, Dickinson, Johns Hopkins.

No. 4 Dickinson vs. No. 5 Johns Hopkins
The winner of this match will take on Haverford in the Semifinals. Earlier this season Dickinson defeated Johns Hopkins 3-1. Live video of this match can be watched free here. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm on Wednesday.

No. 2 Swarthmore vs. No. 3 Franklin & Marshall
Only six days after F&M defeated Swarthmore 2-1 in regular season play on Nov. 3 in a game that featured two penalty kicks, Swarthmore and F&M will face-off again in the Centenial Conference playoffs. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday at 11 am.

No. 1 Haverford vs. Dickinson/Johns Hopkins
The host Fords will have to wait until Wednesday to know their opponent. Earlier in the regular season, Haverford tied Johns Hopkins 1-1, while losing to Dickinson 3-1. These results just show how action-packed this game could be. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday at 1:30 am.

Sunday, November 10 at Haverford, Pa.
Final – The semifinal winners will face-off at 1:00 p.m.

Commonwealth Conference

Complete conference standings • Championship information

The Commonwealth Championship got off to a bizarre start when No.4 Lycoming hosted No. 5 Lebanon Valley College in a game started at 3:00 pm but took more than three hours and a venue change to determine a winner. In the end, Lycoming defeated LVC 1-0. Since Lycoming’s field is unlighted and the sun sets before 5 pm, the game was moved before the second overtime period began. In the 106th minute, Connor McNiff golden-goal and season’s fourth game-winning goal lifted Lycoming over LVC. With the win, Lycoming advances to face No. 1 Messiah.

No. 1 Messiah vs. No. 4 Lycoming
With their 1-0 win against LVC, Lycoming advances to face Messiah College in the semifinals. However, history does not bode well as Messiah is 22-2-0 against them. This year Messiah defeated Lycoming 2-1. The winner advances to Saturday’s Commonwealth final. This match kicks off Wednesday at 7:00 pm.

No. 2 Elizabethtown vs. No. 3 Alvernia
The Blue Jays look to end their Commonwealth Conference tenure on the right foot. This season E-twon defeated Alvernia 2-1 and earned their program’s 800th win in the process. Alvernia went 4-1-0 in their last five conference games to secure the third seed. Game time is set for 7:00 pm. The winner advances to the Commonwealth Final, while the loser’s quest for the NCAA tournament most likely ends.

Freedom Conference

Complete conference standings • Championship information

No. 1 Eastern vs. No. 4 FDU-Florham
Eastern will host FDU-Florham for a 2:00 pm matchup on Wednesday, Nov. 6. In their regular season match on Nov. 2, Eastern defeated FDU 1-0 to claim the No.1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the conference championship.

No. 2 Misericordia vs. No. 3 King’s
The Cougars of Misericordia will host King’s College Wednesday at 7:00 pm. King’s beat Misericordia 1-0 earlier this season.

Landmark Conference

Complete conference standings • Conference Championship Information

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy played five games in 12 days and finished conference play with a 4-3 record. It was good enough for them to make the Landmark Conference playoffs.

No. 1 Catholic vs. No. 4 Juniata
This game is set for a 2:30 p.m. start. In the regular season, Catholic defeated Juniata 2-0.

No. 2 Susquehanna vs. No. 3 USMMA
In the regular season, USMMA defeated Susquehanna 2-1 in overtime. This semifinal match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

New Jersey Athletic Conference

Complete conference standings • Conference championship bracket

The six-team playoff began Saturday. No. 4 TCNJ defeated No. 5 Richard Stockton 2-0, while No. 3 Rutgers Newark defeated No. 6 William Patterson 4-1.

No. 1 Rutgers Camden vs. TCNJ
Rutgers will look to stay perfect on the year when they take on TCNJ. Game time is set for Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 6:00 pm. Earlier this season Rutgers tied TCNJ 1-1.

No. 2 Montclair State vs. Rutgers Newark
Earlier this season Montclair State defeated Rutgers 5-2. This game is set for Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m.