Lincoln Memorial, Tusculum, Carson-Newman, Wingate Advance To NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament

INDIANAPOLIS -- Tusculum College will serve as the host site of this weekend's NCAA Division II Appalachian Region Men's Soccer Tournament announced officials Monday.

Tusculum will be the No. 2 seed in this year's four-team regional and will face No. 3 seed Carson-Newman College on Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Niswonger Sports Complex and Pioneer Field. Lincoln Memorial University will be the No. 1 seed and face fourth-seeded Wingate University at 4 p.m. on Friday.

The winners of the two matches will meet in the region final on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Pioneer Field.

Tusculum and Carson-Newman met earlier this season in Greeneville as the two East Tennessee rivals played to a 3-3 draw.

Wingate defeated Lincoln Memorial 3-0 on Oct. 27 in a match that was played in Rock Hill, S.C.

The region finals brings the same four South Atlantic Conference teams which advanced to the final four of the conference tournament last weekend in Rock Hill, S.C. Lincoln Memorial defeated Tusculum 3-1 in the finals of the Food Lion SAC Tournament.

Tusculum (11-8-2) is making its third NCAA postseason appearance and is hosting the Appalachian Regional for a second time. The Pioneers won the 2004 regional as they defeated Catawba College, 5-4 in overtime in the opening match. TC followed with a 3-0 win over top-seeded Carson-Newman in the region final to advance to the NCAA Elite Eight.

The Pioneers earned a berth in the 2005 NCAA Tournament in Jefferson City, Tenn, but were eliminated by Catawba in the first round, 2-1.

Tusculum captured a share of the South Atlantic Conference title, while winning five of its last seven matches.

The winner of the Appalachian Regional will advance to the national quarterfinals where they will take on the Great Lakes Regional champion. The national semifinals and final will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 2 at Orange Beach, Ala.

2007 NCAA II Men's Soccer Appalachian Regional
Hosted by Tusculum College
Niswonger Sports Complex · Pioneer Field

Friday, November 9, 2007
Match 1: No. 1 Lincoln Memorial vs. No. 4 Wingate, 4 p.m.
Match 2: No. 2 Tusculum vs. No. 3 Carson-Newman, 7 p.m.

Sunday, November 11, 2007
Match 1 winner vs. Match 2 winner, 1 p.m.