Men’s Soccer to Face #2 Tufts in NCAA Tournament First Round Game

WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Westfield State University men's soccer team will travel to Medford, Mass. to face Tufts University, the second nationally ranked team in Division III, for an NCAA Tournament first round game on Saturday.

The Owls enter the NCAA Tournament after defeating Salem State 2-0 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference championship match, earning the league's automatic qualifying bid. Westfield returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012 and receive a bid on the 50-year anniversary of the 1974 men's soccer team that reached the NCAA Final Four.

The Owls currently are on a four-game winning streak, recording a 9-6-5 record and a 4-1-2 league record.

Overall, this will be the tenth time the Owls have reached the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Final Four once while advancing to the second round during the 2000 season.

Tufts enters the tournament as the current number two team in the United Soccer Coaches Division III top 25. The Jumbos received an at-large bid after falling in penalty kicks against Bowdoin College in the NESCAC quarterfinals. On the season, Tufts has yet to drop a match in regulation, posting an 11-0-5 overall record and a 7-0-3 NESCAC mark. The Jumbos are into the NCAA Tournament for the tenth straight season.

Buffalo State and Thomas (Maine) are the other two teams travelling to Tufts. Both games will be played on Saturday with the winners advancing to meet in the second round on Sunday. Additional information such as times and ticket information for this weekend's tournament matches will be posted on WestfieldStateOwls.com when available.