Braves soccer receives bid to NCAA tournament

Rikki Cockrell
UNC Pembroke Sports Information Director

Pembroke, NC - For the first time in school history, the UNCP men's
soccer squad is headed to the NCAA tournament. In an announcement made
at 3:00 p.m. on Monday afternoon, the Braves were announced as one of
three teams chosen from the southeast to participate in regional action
hosted by USC Spartanburg. UNCP will take on third seeded
Carson-Newman College at 7:00 Thursday night to determine who will take
on USCS in Saturday's regional championship.

The Braves, fresh off of a tie in the Peach Belt Conference
championship game on Sunday, turned in the best record in school
history this season at 17-1-1. Ranked second regionally and ninth
nationally, both UNCP's loss and tie came at the hands of Spartanburg.

Carson-Newman finished 14-5-1 this season and were regular season
champions of the South Atlantic Conference. Although the Eagles were
upset in the SAC tournament championship by Catawba College, CNC
managed to grab the third and final regional seed.

Braves fans should need no introduction to USC Spartanburg (15-1-1).
The Rifles handed the Braves their only loss in a 2-1 overtime thriller
in Pembroke and were awarded the PBC tournament trophy after winning
Sunday's shootout 4-3 in Spartanburg.

The Braves, however, could not be more excited to make their second
trip to South Carolina in a four-day span.

Results and stats of Thursday match will be posted to UNCP's athletic
website immediately following the game.