2006 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship Bracket'
Fairfax, Va.--George Mason University's men's soccer team was one of 48 schools selected to participate in the 2006 NCAA Division I Soccer Championship as announced by the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Committee Monday afternoon. The Patriots (12-5-3) will host Bucknell (8-7-6) at George Mason Stadium in a first round match-up on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. This is the first time since 1996 in which the Patriots have received a berth and the seventh time in school history. This also marks the first-ever meeting between these two schools.
"We are excited to be hosting Bucknell in the First Round of the Division I Men's Soccer Championship and are elated to compete in this championship for the first time in 10 years," said Mason head coach Greg Andrulis, who becomes just the third coach in Mason history to take his team to the NCAA Championship. "This is a great honor for our seniors who have put so much heart and soul into our program and it proves that Mason men's soccer is heading in the right direction. We look forward to playing on our home turf and hope the local alumni and fans will come out and support us on Saturday."
The Patriots own an overall record of 3-7 in NCAA Championship games, including a 1-0 win over Virginia in Charlottesville on Nov. 24, 1996, which advanced Mason to the next round, but the Patriots then fell to St. John's on neutral ground, 2-1. The Patriots have hosted an NCAA Championship game three times and own a 1-2 overall record in those contests. The win came in 1986 against Maryland in a 2-1 overtime decision.
Most recently, the Patriots advanced to the Colonial Athletic Association Championship title game for the fourth time in school history following a 5-4 decision on a penalty kick shootout situation against #1 Towson, after tying the Tigers in the semifinals, 1-1, in 110 minutes of play on Nov. 3. Mason next faced off against #2 Hofstra in the title game two days later and, again, the score was tied 1-1 after 110 minutes. Hofstra was crowned the league champion after winning on penalty kicks, 3-2, at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex in Virginia Beach, Va.
Mason heads into this weekend's match-up with a 12-5-3 overall record, which marks the most wins for the Patriots since the 1998 campaign. Since 1985, which was the first year of CAA men's soccer, the Patriots have collected 12 or more wins on 10 occasions.
Bucknell won its first-ever Patriot League Championship this past weekend as the Bison went scoreless in 110 minutes of play against Lafayette in the championship game, but ended up winning in the penalty kick shootout situation, 4-3. In the semifinal game, Bucknell also tied top-seeded Lehigh, 1-1, but advanced after making four of its penalty kicks to Lehigh's one. The Bison are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1976.
Mason is one of four CAA teams represented in the field of 48 as Towson, seeded 15th overall in the tournament, received a first-round bye, while Old Dominion and Hofstra will each host in the first round.
Students with a valid Mason ID will get in for free, while tickets for adults are $7 and $5 for students, as well as youths. In addition, groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets on-line for $3, up to 24 hours in advance. Click here for Group Ticket Sales information.
The winner of this match-up will move on to face #4 University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va. on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.
Mason's History in NCAA Tournament
1984 American* L, 1-2
1985 at UVA W, 1-0
at American L, 1-3
1986 Maryland* W, 2-1 (ot)
at Loyola (Md.) L, 0-2
1987 at UVA L, 0-2
1989 George Washington* L, 1-3
1990 at St. Louis L, 0-1
1996 at Virginia W, 1-0
vs. St. John's L, 1-2
Overall Record 3-7
*played in Fairfax, Va.
