The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Soccer to Host Northwestern in NCAA Tournament Thursday Night
November 14 | Men's Soccer
2011 NCAA Tournament Interactive Bracket | 2011 NCAA Tournament Printable Bracket
AKRON, Ohio – The defending national champion University of Akron men's soccer team earned the right to defend their title when the 2011 NCAA Championship field was announced Monday.
The Zips (13-3-4), who received an at-large bid, will host Big Ten champion Northwestern (11-4-5) Thursday at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field at 7:30 p.m. The winner will then face No. 6-seeded SMU (13-6-1) on the road Sunday at 8 p.m. (ET).
All UA season ticket holders who purchased the postseason package will be able to use their Nov. 20th game ticket for Thursday's contest.
All other fans may purchase tickets starting Tuesday morning at 10 a.m., by calling 1-888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting the C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field (located at the southwest corner of the venue, near Gate 1, at the corner of East Exchange and South Union streets).
Limited reserved tickets – both chair back and bleacher back seats – are available for $15. General admission ($10), youth general admission ($5) and UA student tickets ($5) will also go on sale Tuesday morning.
In recognition of the tremendous student support the Zips have received all season, the UA Department of Athletics will purchase the first 1,500 student tickets. Students can pick up their tickets at the March to the Match (located on Vine Street outside of InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field) – starting at 6:15 p.m. – on the day of the game, while supplies last. If available, the remaining student tickets will be distributed at Gate 2 of FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field prior to kick off.
Thursday's game against the Wildcats will represent a chance for the Zips to avenge a NCAA Tournament setback during the 2008 season.
UA suffered a 1-0 defeat to Northwestern in a game that was originally scheduled to be played in Akron but moved to Evanston, Ill., due to unplayable field conditions at the old Lee R. Jackson Soccer Field. The Zips' home venue has since undergone a complete renovation that included the installation of a brand new playing surface.
When Akron takes the field Thursday, it will also mark the school's 26th appearance in the NCAA postseason all-time and the fifth-consecutive year it has qualified, all under head coach Caleb Porter.
Akron advanced all the way to the national championship game in each of the last two seasons and will be looking to become the first school to win back-to-back titles since Indiana accomplished the feat in 2003 and 2004.
Also seeded in UA's bracket are No. 3 UCONN (17-3-2), No. 11 UAB (13-4-3) – which will be the host of the 2011 College Cup, and No. 14 James Madison (12-4-2). The remaining top four seeds went to No. 1 North Carolina (17-2-2), No. 2 Creighton (18-2) and No. 4 Boston College (14-6).
The 2011 College Cup will be played at Regions Field in Hoover, Ala., on Dec. 9 and 11.
