Men's Soccer Earns Top Seed in NECC Championship

ATTLEBORO, Mass. – The Mitchell College men's soccer team will be the top seed in the 2017 NECC Men's Soccer Championship, as announced by the New England Collegiate Conference on Saturday night.

Mitchell wins a tight race for the NECC regular season men's soccer crown. The Mariners finished the regular season at 6-1-0 and are led by Andrew Storton's five conference goals. Mitchell has earned a first-round bye and will host the winner of the first round match-up between No. 5 Newbury College and No. 4 Southern Vermont College on Friday, November 3 at 3:00 p.m.

The second first-round bye goes to Lesley University, which finished the regular season at 5-2-0. The Lynx edged out Elms College for the No. 2 seed by virtue of the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Lynx have seen strong play in goal from David Crutchfield, who is second in the conference in goals against average (1.73). Lesley will host the winner of the first round match-up between No. 6 Wheelock College and No. 3 Elms on Friday, November 3 at 8:00 p.m.

Finishing third was Elms, which earns the right to host a first round game. The Blazers, led by forward Babba Jaden's nine conference goals, will host No. 6 Becker College on Tuesday, October 31 at 4:00 p.m.

The other first round game will be hosted by No. 4 seeded Southern Vermont College on Tuesday, October 31 at 1:00 p.m, when the Mountaineers welcome No. 5 Newbury College. The match-up features two of the conference's leading goal scorers in Jared Lacoste of Southern Vermont and Nilton De Andrade of Newbury.

The semifinals winners will face off in the NECC Championship on Sunday, November 5 at the highest remaining seed.

First Round – Tuesday, October 31
Game 1: #5 Newbury @ #4 Southern Vermont- 1:00 p.m.
Game 2: #6 Becker @ #3 Elms- 4:00 p.m.

Semifinals – Friday, November 3
Game 3: Game 1 winner @ #1 Mitchell – 3:00 p.m.
Game 4: Game 2 winner @ #2 Lesley – 8:00 p.m.

Championship – Sunday, November 5
Game 5: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner – TBA