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On Monday, the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Committee announced the field and bracket for the 2012 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship. The Boston College Eagles (8-5-5) earned a first round matchup against the cross-town Northeastern Huskies (13-2-4), winners of the Colonial Athletic Association. The game will be this Thursday at 6 PM at Parsons Field in Brookline.
Northeastern is making its second ever appearance in the NCAAs and first since 2002. This year, the Huskies compiled a program record 13 wins, including a CAA title following a 1-0 double OT victory over Hofstra. Over their last 15 matches at Parsons Field, Northeastern is 14-0-1, including a 7-0-1 mark this season. NU hasn't lost at home since November 2010.
The Eagles will be making their sixth straight trip to the National Tournament under head coach Ed Kelly and 12th overall. Last season, the Eagles lost in shootouts 4-3 to Rutgers in the NCAA Second Round after playing to a 1-1 draw in regulation.
BC last faced Northeastern during the 2005 season, a 2-1 victory for the Eagles. Boston College is unbeaten in 12 games against Northeastern, holding a 11-0-1 edge in the all-time series.
Should the Eagles advance, they will face the number 4 nationally seeded Connecticut Huskies in Storrs. New England Cold War on the pitch! All second round games will be played on Sunday, November 18.
Here is how BC's quarter of the bracket shapes up:
First Round
Niagara (13-1-4) at Michigan (10-9-1)
Air Force (10-8-4) at Washington (12-4-3)
Lafayette (9-7-4) at Virginia (9-6-4)
Boston College (8-5-5) at Northeastern (13-2-4)
Second Round
#5 Akron (17-1-2) vs. Niagara / Michigan winner
#12 Creighton (15-3-2) vs. Air Force / Washington winner
#13 New Mexico (16-3-1) vs. Lafayette / Virginia winner
#4 Connecticut (15-3-1) vs. Boston College / Northeastern winner
From the ACC, three programs are among the tournament's top-16 seeds -- No. 2 Maryland (17-1-2), no. 9 defending National Champion North Carolina (15-3-2) and no. 15 Wake Forest (11-3-5). BC and Virginia (9-6-4) are the conference's other two selections.
Go Eagles!