SWOSU Sports
Doug Self, Sports Information Director
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – SWOSU Soccer was announced as the No. 6 seed in the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament during Monday evening’s NCAA Selection Show. The Bulldogs are set to make their second appearance in school history in the regional tournament and the first since 2012 when they were the No. 4 seed.
The Bulldogs (12-4-3) will face No. 3 seed Missouri Western in the opening round of the regional tournament on Friday, November 10th in Mankato, Minnesota. Kickoff time is still to be determined but the match will be played on Minnesota State’s home field ‘The Pitch’ with video and live stats coverage options available for viewing.
SWOSU claimed the sixth and final spot in the regional tournament by way of the Great American Conference’s automatic bid handed out to the winner of the GAC Tournament. The Bulldogs entered last week’s regional poll eighth – two spots out of the six that qualify for the NCAA Tournament – but jumped into the field by claiming their third GAC Tournament crown since 2011. The Dawgs defeated Harding in the semifinals 3-0 before handing 2017 GAC Regular Season Champion Oklahoma Baptist their first loss to a conference opponent all year in the championship match by a 3-2 final score.
The Central Region Tournament is comprised of six teams who will compete in a single elimination bracket at two host campus sites. Winners of both sides of the bracket will then faceoff the following weekend for the outright region championship and continue on in the tournament. Central Missouri, who boasts the nation’s only undefeated record, was named the No. 1 seed and will host one location while Minnesota State, winner of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference at 17-2-2 on the year, will house the other.
In Mankato on Friday, it will be No. 6 seed SWOSU vs No. 3 seed Missouri Western. In Warrensburg on Friday, it will be No. 5 seed Bemidji State vs No. 4 seed Augustana. Both host schools (UCM and MSU) receive a first round bye and will play the winner of their site’s first round matchups on Sunday, November 12th.
In SWOSU’s only postseason appearance in school history back in 2012, the Bulldogs were awarded the No. 4 seed after compiling an unbeaten 20-0-1 record. SWOSU was victorious over Minot State 3-0 in the opening round, before falling to Central Missouri 3-0 for their first and only loss of the season. Until this year, the 2012 team was SWOSU’s only team to advance past the Great American Conference Tournament.
The Dawgs will now have an opportunity to add to their NCAA Postseason history.