NCAA Division III

Division III men’s soccer roundup: Conference playoffs conclude, teams ready for NCAA’s, and more

Photo: Courtesy of Rutgers-Camden Athletics

Conference post-season play concluded this weekend. While some clinched their Pool A bid, others were sent into Pool C. In short Pool A is for conference championship winners with automatic qualifiers, while Pool C is for those who do not secure an automatic qualifier. There is also Pool B which is for conferences who do not have automatic qualifiers. However, all of the local conferences have automatic qualifiers and therefore all local teams fall under Pool A or Pool C. For more details and specifics, on Pool A, B, and C check out D3soccer.com’s detailed piece.

The NCAA selection show will be streamed at NCAA.com on Monday, Nov. 11 at 1 pm. As per the pre-championship manual, 61 men’s soccer teams make the 2013 NCAA Tournament with three earning first-round byes. We will know which Pool C bubble-teams are in or out, and where the local conference champions are placed in the bracket and who they face in the first-round.

On Tuesday, we will have a piece highlighting the 61-team bracket and the match-ups featuring local teams.

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

Capital Athletic Conference

Complete conference standingsConference Tournament Bracket 

The CAC Final match took place Saturday.

No. 2 York College vs. No. 1 Salisbury
York’s early goal was good enough to secure their fifth-straight CAC title with a 1-0 win over Salisbury. The goal came when Chris Weaver’s crossing pass connected with Jake Hower in the box, who headed it home. Salisbury is ranked third in the South Atlantic Region and has a decent shot of getting an at-large bid for the 2013 NCAA Tournament.

Centennial Conference

Complete conference standingsConference championship information

In Saturday’s semifinal matches, N0. 4 Dickinson defeated No. 1 Haverford 2-0 behind two Derek Kachadurian goals, while No. 3 F&M got past No. 2 Swarthmore 2-1.

No. 4 Dickinson vs. No. 3 Franklin & Marshall
On Sunday, Dickinson and F&M battled through two overtime periods before F&M secured the 2-1 result. A Dickinson own-goal put F&M up 1-0 in the 28th. However, Dickinson found an equalizer in the 80th minute when a long throw-in found the box and Danny Sheppard, who headed the ball into goal to force the game into overtime.

In the second overtime period, Chris Scott scored the game-winning goal and clinched the Diplomats’ first Centennial Conference championship. In fact, this was their first conference title since winning the 1952 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) championship.

Commonwealth Conference

Complete conference standingsChampionship information

No. 4 Lycoming vs. No. 2 Elizabethtown
Earlier this week, both teams advanced to the final by winning PKs. It would be deja vu for both teams as the final was also decided in penalty kicks. Trevor Bishop scored the game-winning PK for Lycoming as they advanced 5-3. This will be the first time the Warriors make the NCAA Tournament.

In looking back at the run-up to the final, their first Commonwealth Conference Championship, Lycoming played three games in six days, all of which went to double OT.

For the Blue Jays, it looks like their 2013 season comes to an end as they were not listed in last week’s regional rankings.

Freedom Conference

Complete conference standingsChampionship information

No. 4 FDU-Florham vs. No. 3 King’s
Despite trailing 1-0 at the half thanks to a Tommy Asselta goal, King’s stormed back and scored two second-half goal en route to their first Freedom Conference Championship. Cameron Rhodes scored in the 64th minute, while Brian Fenster’s gamewinner was scored at the 78:33 mark in the 2-1 win.

Landmark Conference

Complete conference standingsConference Championship Information

No. 4 Juniata vs. No. 2 Susquehanna
Susquehanna have now won back-to-back Landmark Championships behind a 1-0 win over Juniata. David Aurand’s 65th minute goal proved to be the gamewinner. With the win, Susquehanna earns an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

New Jersey Athletic Conference

Complete conference standingsConference championship bracket

No. 1 Rutgers Camden vs. Rutgers Newark
In their first ever NJAC Championship meeting on Saturday, Rutgers-Camden won its third consecutive title behind a 2-0 win. Camden went up early with both of their goals coming in the first six minutes of play. At the 2:14 mark, Mitch Grotti’s penalty kick but the hosts up 1-0 before Keegan Balle’s shot from a throw in doubled the lead. With the win, Rutgers-Camden keeper Mike Randall earned his 11th shutout of the year and ties the program’s single-season record. Despite the loss, Rutgers-Newark still has a shot of making the NCAA tournament.

2 Comments

  1. That Haverford upset on Saturday was really a killer. Here is the Div III Championship bracket that was put together tonight: http://i.turner.ncaa.com/dr/ncaa/ncaa7/release/sites/default/files/images/2013/11/11/diii-mens-soccer-2013.pdf

  2. Phil Naegely says:

    Guido- Yes it did. There’s a post coming out very soon today looking at who made it. Look forward to that piece, and let me know your thoughts as always:)

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