Championship Bracket [pdf.]

STORRS, CT (November 18) – The University of Connecticut men’s soccer team, earned its sixth straight and 23rd overall NCAA Tournament berth in the 2002 Men’s Soccer College Cup, as announced by the NCAA Division I Soccer Committee on Monday afternoon. The Huskies earned a first round bye in the tournament as they were tagged with the No. 7 seed. UConn will face the winner of the first round match-up of No. 16 Pennsylvania and Seton Hall on Wednesday, November 27 at 1:00 pm at Morrone Stadium.

All in Connecticut’s bracket, in which the Huskies could possibly face down the road are No. 22 Notre Dame, Akron and No. 3 Indiana.

Connecticut, the No. 3 seed in the 2002 BIG EAST championship, fell to the top seeded Boston College, 3-2, in the conference finals on Sunday afternoon. UConn is currently ranked No. 5 in the nation, and holds a record of 15-5 overall. The team boasts 2002 BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year and M.A.C. Hermann Award Finalist Damani Ralph (Kingston, Jamaica), who leads the team in scoring on 17 goals and four assists for 38 points, including eight game-winners. Rookie keeper Adam Schuerman (Brookfield, WI) has tended net all season, and currently sports a goals against average of 0.95, allowing 19 goals on 64 saves.

The BIG EAST earned five overall tournament selections, and joining Connecticut are Seton Hall, Notre Dame, Boston College and St. John’s, all team the Huskies suffered losses to this season. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) had six teams qualify for the national tournament, including four in the top 16 (Wake Forest, Clemson, Virginia, Maryland)