INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – On Monday night, #20 Concordia-St. Paul (17-2-2) earned a spot as the third seed in the Central Region Tournament as the NCAA released the 2019 NCAA Division II Soccer Tournament bracket. CSP will face sixth-seeded Northeastern State (14-4-3) in the first round on Friday at 10 a.m.
The Golden Bears, along with Northeastern State and No. 7 seed Southwestern Oklahoma State, will travel to Warrensburg, Missouri as Central Missouri was named the second seed and host of their side of the regional bracket. This is the first time in program history that the Golden Bears will compete in the NCAA Tournament as they are the seventh team sport on Concordia's campus to compete in the NCAA Tournament in the DII-era (1999-present).
CSP dropped from second in last week's NCAA regional rankings to the third seed after falling to Minnesota State 3-0 in the NSIC Tournament Championship game on Sunday at Sea Foam Stadium. Minnesota State took over the top seed and will host their side of the bracket with a first round bye, facing the winner of fourth-seeded Augustana and fifth-seeded Central Oklahoma heading to Mankato, Minnesota as well.
The tournament field includes three schools from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), three schools from the Mid-America Athletic Association (MIAA) and the automatic qualifier from the Great American Conference (GAC). Minnesota State, Central Oklahoma and Southwestern Oklahoma State earned the three automatic bids.
Concordia's meeting with Northeastern State will be the first ever meeting between the two schools.
2019 NCAA Central Region Tournament schedule
Quarterfinals, Friday, November 22 – Warrensburg, Mo.
10:00 a.m. - No. 3 Concordia-St. Paul (17-2-2) vs No. 6 Northeastern State (14-4-3)
1:00 p.m. - No. 2 Central Missouri (17-2-1) vs No. 7 Southwestern Oklahoma State (13-4-3)
Semifinals, Sunday, November 24 – Warrensburg, Mo.
1:00 p.m. - CSP/NSU winner vs UCM/SWOSU winner
Quarterfinals, Friday, November 22 – Mankato, Minn.
No. 1 Minnesota State (17-3-1) (bye)
1:00 p.m. - No. 4 Augustana (15-4-1) vs No. 5 Central Oklahoma (14-4-3)
Semifinals, Sunday, November 24 – Mankato, Minn.
1:00 p.m. - No. 1 Minnesota State vs AUGIE/UCO winner
