SNHU Top Seed in DII Men East Region

Frankline Pierce and UMass-Lowell Join Penmen in Dance

November 11, 2008

Southern New Hampshire University earned the top seed in the East Regional of the of the NCAA Division II men’s soccer tournament.

The Penmen will play host to first and second round competition on Friday and Sunday. On Friday fourth-seeded UMass Lowell will take on fifth-seeded Molloy College in a first round game at SNHU’s Larkin Field. The winner of that game will face SNHU on Sunday in a second round contest.

SNHU Men

The Northeast-10 Champion Southern New Hampshire University. (SNHU Athletics)

Reigning National Champions Franklin Pierce University will get the chance to defend its title. Franklin Pierce (12-7-2, 9-3-1 NE-10) is the No. 6-seed in the East Regional and will battle fellow Northeast-10 Conference member and No. 3-seeded Le Moyne College (13-5-3, 9-3-1 NE-10) in the first round on Thursday at 1 p.m.

The winner of the Franklin Pierce/Le Moyne match will advance to face host Dowling in an East Regional semifinal on Saturday at 1 p.m.

SNHU earned its 14th trip to the NCAA Tournament with a 15-2-4 overall record. The Penmen earned a share of the Northeast-10 regular season title, then captured the third NE-10 tournament title in program history with a 1-0 win over Le Moyne College on Saturday. Southern New Hampshire is currently ranked No. 13 in the latest adidas/NSCAA Division II poll.

UMass Lowell captured a share of the Northeast-10 regular season title and was the NE-10 tourney’s top seed before being bounced by Le Moyne in the semifinals. The River Hawks, who dealt SNHU their only conference loss of the season, are ranked No. 21 nationally and enter the tournament with an overall record of 11-3-4. UML is making its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance, with all four coming since 2003.

The NCAA Tournament bid is the second straight and fourth in six years for the River Hawks, who advanced to the second round last season before falling to eventual national champion Franklin Pierce (3-1).

"Obviously, we're delighted to be back in the NCAA Tournament,” said UMass-Lowell coach Ted Priestly. “This is what we have all worked for all season, and our boys are playing well at the right time. We are fresh and hungry for what this tournament means. And playing so close to Lowell, this is like another home game for us."

Franklin Pierce, making its 14th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history, has earned berths now in six-straight seasons. The Ravens captured their first National Championship last fall, posting a 1-0 victory over Lincoln Memorial University in the final in Orange Beach, Ala. Franklin Pierce has won three of the last four regional championships and reached the Final Four twice in the last four years (three times overall).

For the full NCAA Division II men’s soccer bracket, click here.

2008 NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Championship -- East Regional

At Manchester, NH (Southern New Hampshire University)
First Round - Friday, Nov. 14
No. 4 UMass Lowell (11-3-4) vs. No. 5 Molloy (12-5-2) – 3:00 pm
Second Round - Sunday, Nov. 16
Winner at No. 1 Southern New Hampshire –1:00 pm

At Brookhaven, NY (Dowling College)
First Round – Thursday, Nov. 13
No. 3 Le Moyne College (13-5-3) vs. No. 6 Franklin Pierce (12-7-2) – TBA
Second Round – Saturday, Nov. 15
Winner at No. 2 Dowling (16-3-0) – 1:00

Regional Final – November 22 or 23 (at highest remaining seed)
Second Round Winners – 1:00

National Semifinals and Championship – Dec. 4-6 (Pepin-Rood Stadium, Tampa, FL )

Return from SNHU Top Seed in DII Men East Region to College Soccer

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