INDIANAPOLIS - After posting 10 wins and a runner-up finish in the 2018 South Atlantic Conference Tournament, Anderson University men's soccer earned the No. 6 seed in the Southeast Region of the NCAA Division II Championships, as the Trojans will take on No. 3 seed Limestone in its opening match in Greenwood, S.C, announced Monday night by the NCAA.
Anderson begins its tournament run on Friday at 7 p.m. when it heads to the campus of Lander, as the Bearcats earned the No. 1 seed within the Southeast Region. The winner of the Anderson and Limestone match will then take on Lander Sunday at 1 p.m. for a chance to advance to the Sweet 16.
South Atlantic Conference Tournament champions, Tusculum University earned the No. 4 seed in the region and will face SAC opponent and No. 5 seed Queens. Those matches will take place on the campus of Young Harris College. The winner will face the top-seeded Mountain Lions Sunday at 1 p.m.
Anderson has not met Limestone since 2009 with the Black and Gold claiming a 2-1 double overtime victory.
After defeating fifth-seeded Lincoln Memorial in its opening match of the SAC Championship, Anderson would later eliminate top-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne from the conference tournament with a 2-1 win to advance to the conference final. The Trojans would eventually fall to Tusculum, 2-1, snapping an eight match winning streak.
By earning the spot in the NCAA Tournament, it marks the fourth time since joining the SAC in 2010 that Anderson has advanced past the conference tournament. In that span, the Trojans hold a 1-3-1* (*advanced on PK's) record with their most recent result coming in 2013. The Black and Gold dropped a, 3-2, to Carson-Newman.
"I'm proud of the team and what we have been able to achieve so far this season," said head coach Michael Zion. "After losing out in the SAC final, this is a fresh breath of air and definitely renewed excitement. The team has worked hard and fought through adversity all year. We are thankful to receive this type of recognition and excited to be able to extend our season."
Kickoff with the Saints is schedule for 7 p.m. on Friday from Van Taylor Stadium on the campus of Lander University.
