Northwood and Saginaw Valley State Earn Berths into NCAA D-II Men's Soccer Regional

Northwood and Saginaw Valley State Earn Berths into NCAA D-II Men's Soccer Regional

INDIANAPOLIS - The Northwood University and Saginaw Valley State University men's soccer teams were selected to compete in the NCAA Division II Tournament.  The selections were the first in program history for both teams.

The Rockhurst University men's soccer team will host the first and second-round in the NCAA Tournament this weekend. Rockhurst was named the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region and will host No. 4 seed Saginaw Valley State at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11. The other first-round game on Friday matches No. 2 seed Northern Kentucky University and No. 3 seed Northwood at 4 p.m. The first-round winners will play in the second round on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m.

It is the first time in the 11-year history of the program that the Timberwolves have reached the NCAA Tournament.  Northwood lost in the finals of the GLIAC Tournament to Tiffin on penalty kicks last Saturday afternoon (Nov. 5). The Timberwolves posted a 9-4-4 record this season and a 6-3-3 mark in GLIAC play, finishing tied for second in the league standings. 

Northwood is led by senior forward Keith Lough (Edinburgh, Scotland), who was named the 2011 GLIAC Men's Soccer "Offensive Player of the Year."  Lough led Northwood in goals (eight), shots (59) and points (19) this season. Among GLIAC players, Lough ranked third overall in goals while standing second in the conference in goals per game (0.62). The 2008 GLIAC "Freshman of the Year," Lough has 24 career goals and 12 career assists. He ranks third in NU history in goals, second in assists and third in points (60).

The Cardinals claimed their first GLIAC Championship in school history in 2011, finishing the regular season with a record of 12-4-2 (7-3-2 GLIAC).  Junior defender Zach Myers (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Eastern)was named GLIAC "Defensive Player of the Year," while head coach Cale Wassermann was tabbed as GLIAC "Coach of the Year." 

The sixth-ranked Rockhurst Hawks are currently 15-2-2 on the season and have gone unbeaten in their last 14 games (12-0-2). Rockhurst captured the regular season title in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Hawks suffered a 3-2 loss to Quincy in penalty kicks in the semifinals of the GLVC Tournament last Friday. The game officially ended in a 1-1 tie prior to the shootout.

NKU enters the tournament with a 13-4 record.  The Norse lost a 2-1 decision to Drury in the quarterfinals of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament and have taken advantage of added training time to prepare for the rigors of tournament play to come.

For all the information on the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament click here.