ANDERSON, S.C. - The seedings have been set for this week's 2010 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Men's Soccer Tournament and the Trojans have earned the third seed in the event as announced by the conference office on Sunday.
Anderson, 11-5-1 overall, will play host to sixth-seed Lenoir-Rhyne University on Wednesday at Trojan Stadium, with kick-off slated for 2 p.m. The Bears went 5-4 in conference play and are 10-7 overall.
Admission to all Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament events is $5 for adults and $2 for college students and children 13 and under. Fans showing their Food Lion MVP card can save $1 off the adult admission price.
In their regular-season matchup on September 19, Lenoir-Rhyne defeated Anderson, 3-1, in Hickory, N.C., in the Trojan's conference-opening contest. The Bears built a 3-0 lead before AU's offense began to fire away, posting nine of its 18 shots on the afternoon in the final 10 minutes of play, with sophomore Clement Samson pulling Anderson to within 3-1 as he notched his second goal of the season in the 81st minute of action off an assist from junior Scott Clapperton.
The Trojans won seven of their last eight regular-season contests and are ranked seventh in the NCAA's Southeast Region, while posting a stellar 8-1 record in the friendly confines of Trojan Stadium this season.
Wingate University, which clinched a share of the conference
championship with a 2-1 double-overtime victory over Lincoln
Memorial on Saturday, is the top seed for the tournament. The
Bulldogs went 8-1 in conference play to share the league
championship with Carson-Newman College. Wingate, 14-2 overall, won
their fourth conference championship, but first since 2001. The
Bulldogs earned the top seed by virtue of its 6-0 win over
Carson-Newman on October 16.
Wingate will face eighth-seed Brevard College on Wednesday at 7
p.m. The Tornados went 2-7 in conference play and are 3-14-1
overall. Wingate defeated Brevard 6-1 on October 9.
Conference co-champion Carson-Newman went 8-1 in conference play to
win its third straight league crown. The Eagles are 11-4-1 overall
and will face seventh-seed Catawba College on Wednesday.
Carson-Newman defeated Catawba 5-1 in their regular-season matchup
on October 9.
Anderson and Lincoln Memorial University tied for third place with
6-3 conference records, but the Trojans earned the third seed by
virtue of their 3-1 victory over LMU on October 23.
Lincoln Memorial, 10-5-1 overall, is the fourth seed and will host
fifth-seed Mars Hill College. The Lions went 5-3-1 in conference
play and are 12-4-1 overall. Lincoln Memorial defeated Mars Hill
3-1 on October 27.
Quarterfinal winners advance to the tournament semifinals, which
will be held at Manchester Meadows Soccer Complex in Rock Hill,
S.C. on Friday, November 5. The two men's semifinals will be played
at 6 p.m.
The men's tournament championship will be Sunday, November 7 at 4
p.m. at Manchester Meadows Soccer Complex. The championship match
will be videostreamed live over the Internet.
The South Atlantic Conference is collecting new, unused soccer
balls, footballs or basketballs during the semifinals and
championships in conjunction with WRHI's Toys for Happiness
campaign for Christmas gifts for underprivileged children. Fans
donating a ball will receive two complimentary admissions.
BRACKETS
Wednesday, November 4
Food Lion SAC Tournament quarterfinals
At higher seed
No. 8 Brevard at No. 1 Wingate, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Catawba at No. 2 Carson-Newman, TBA
No. 6 Lenoir-Rhyne at No. 3 Anderson, 2 p.m.
No. 5 Mars Hill at No. 4 Lincoln Memorial, TBA
Friday, November 6
Food Lion SAC Tournament Semifinals
At Manchester Meadows, Rock Hill, SC
Brevard / Wingate winner vs. Mars Hill / Lincoln Memorial winner, 6
p.m.
Catawba / Carson-Newman winner vs. Lenoir-Rhyne / Anderson winner,
6 p.m.
Sunday, November 8
Food Lion SAC Tournament Championship
At Manchester Meadows, Rock Hill, S.C.
Semifinal winners, 4 p.m.
