SYRACUSE, N.Y. – For the first time since 1984, the Orange men’s soccer team (12-6) has earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship, the NCAA announced on Monday, Nov. 12. SU will travel to Cornell (15-1) on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. at Berman Field.
Syracuse is making its second appearance in program history in the NCAA Tournament, following a regular season that saw the Orange record its most wins in a campaign since 1988. SU also earned its first BIG EAST Championship berth since 2005 after it recorded its most conference victories (five) since 1999.
The NCAA First Round match-up marks the 67th meeting between the Orange and Big Red. Cornell leads the overall series 34-25-7, while SU has won seven out of the last nine meetings.
Cornell secured its spot in the NCAA Championship on Saturday, defeating Columbia in the Ivy League championship game. The Big Red opened the 2012 campaign winning 12 consecutive contests, before dropping a 2-0 decision to Brown on Oct. 20. Big Red forward Daniel Haber leads the offensive charge, leading the nation in points per game (2.69) and goals per game (1.13). He also ranks third nationally in total points (43) and total goals (18).
The winner of the Syracuse-Cornell game will advance to face 14-seed Virginia Commonwealth (12-3-5) in Richmond, Va. on Sunday, Nov. 18. The Rams reached the Atlantic 10 Championship match before falling to St. Louis.
The national tournament berth is head coach Ian McIntyre’s first at Syracuse. He directed Hartwick to the NCAA Tournament in 2005.
Courtesy: SU Athletics
