Despite an impressive record (10-2-3, 6-1-2 NESCAC) and a high seeding in the conference tournament, the men’s soccer team is currently on the outside looking in at the NCAA tournament.
After losing to Bates 1-0 in overtime in the first round of the NESCAC playoffs last Sunday, the Cards can no longer earn the automatic bid to the NCAAs that comes with a conference championship. Instead, the Cardinals have held a normal week of practice while waiting to find out if their historic season is enough to sway the NCAA selection committee into giving the team an at-large bid. The Cardinals also need help from other teams and will spend this weekend – and only this weekend – rooting for Amherst or Williams to win the NESCAC playoffs.
The Cards also hope that highly ranked teams across the nation will win their conferences, thereby not taking up an at-large bid. So far, Wesleyan hasn’t gotten much help in that department, as Ohio Wesleyan University and Messiah College – both ranked in the top five nationally all season – have already been bounced from their conference tournaments and will surely receive at-large bids. The committee will announce the tournament field on Sunday at 9 p.m.
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