(Courtesy of The Commonwealth Coast Conference)
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Nichols College has claimed the top seed for The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) men's soccer championship, which begins with quarterfinal matchups on campus sites Saturday.
The Bison (14-3-1 overall) earned the top seed in the conference tournament after matching Western New England College with a league-best 10-2-1 record in TCCC play. Nichols will host #8 seed Endicott College (6-9-2, 6-6-1) in a quarterfinal contest Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
Other quarterfinal matchups slated for Saturday include #2 seed Western New England (12-5-2, 10-2-1) hosting #7 seed Colby-Sawyer College (7-9-3, 6-4-3) at 1:30 p.m. In addition, #3 seed Gordon College (9-4-4, 8-1-4) will host #6 seed Wentworth Institute of Technology (9-8, 7-6) at 1:00 p.m., while #4 seed Salve Regina University (12-5-1, 9-3-1) will host #5 seed Roger Williams University (7-8-3, 7-3-3) at 1:00 p.m.
Three ties in the conference standings were resolved using the first step of the TCCC tiebreaking procedures. By virtue of victories in the teams' regular-season matchups, Nichols earned the top seed over Western New England, Gordon claimed the third seed over Salve Regina, and Wentworth captured the sixth seed over Colby-Sawyer.
Quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinal round which will be played on Wednesday, November 3 at the sites of the higher seed. Matches are tentatively scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
Semifinal winners will square off for the conference championship on Saturday, November 6 at 1:00 p.m. at the site of the higher seed.
Gordon blanked the Leopards, 7-0, in the regular-season meeting between the two teams on September 28, in Wenham, Mass. Saturday's contest will be the 20th all-time between the two schools with the Fighting Scots holding a 12-6-1 advantage. In conference tournament play, this will be the sixth meeting between the two schools with Gordon leading, 4-1. The last time the two teams played in the conference tournament, Gordon took a 3-0 win on November 1, 2003.
All published start times are subject to change.
2010 TCCC MEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
All Start Times Subject to Change
Quarterfinals • Saturday, October 30
#8 Endicott (6-9-2, 6-6-1) at #1 Nichols (14-3-1, 10-2-1), 4:30 p.m.
#7 Colby-Sawyer (7-9-3, 6-4-3) at #2 Western New England (12-5-2, 10-2-1), 1:30 p.m.
#6 Wentworth (9-8, 7-6) at #3 Gordon (9-4-4, 8-1-4), 1:00 p.m.
#5 Roger Williams (7-8-3, 7-3-3) at #4 Salve Regina (12-5-1, 9-3-1), 1:00 p.m.
Semifinals • Wednesday, November 3
#1/8 winner vs. #4/5 winner, 1:00 p.m. (at higher seed)
#2/7 winner vs. #3/6 winner, 1:00 p.m. (at higher seed)
Championship Match • Saturday, November 6
Semifinal Winners, 1:00 p.m. (at higher seed)