DUDLEY, Mass. – The Nichols College men’s soccer team has been selected as the eighth seed in the ECAC New England Division III Tournament and will play top-seeded Eastern Connecticut in Willimantic, Conn., on Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the opening round. The ECAC Tournament appearance marks the first in program history, continuing a season for the record books after the Bison’s first-ever appearance in The Commonwealth Coast Conference championship game.
The Bison (11-9-1) advanced to TCCC title game after upset wins over second-seeded Roger Williams and third-seeded Curry in the TCCC tournament before falling to nationally-ranked Western New England College, 3-1, in the title match. The Bison have won the most games since 1982 and are one win away from tying the program mark for most wins in a season, set in 1963 and again met in 1965.
Eastern Connecticut (13-3-3) lost in the Little East Conference semifinals to Rhode Island College, 2-1, on Saturday, October 25. The Warriors posted a 14-game unbeaten streak and seven shutouts during the season.
Other first-round games include fifth-seeded Southern Maine (12-8-1) at fourth-seeded Husson (10-6-1), sixth-seeded St. Joseph’s (Maine) (12-6-3) at third-seeded Coast Guard (10-8-1), and seventh-seeded Lasell (12-7) at second-seeded Curry (15-4-3).
The semifinals will be played on Saturday, November 15, at the highest remaining seeds, and the championship will take place on Sunday, November 16 at the highest remaining seed.