INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - America East men's soccer champion Vermont will take on Boston College in the first round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship. The Catamounts and Eagles, who learned their draws during the NCAA selection show Monday afternoon, will square off Thursday at 6 p.m. at BC's Newton Campus Field.
America East teams have had success in the NCAA Championship. Last year, UMBC became the league’s first team to reach the College Cup and 11 times in the last 14 years an America East team has reached the second round, including Vermont in 2007.
Vermont was one of several America East teams that have enjoyed outstanding seasons. The conference is one of only four leagues (ACC, Big Ten and Conference USA) with seven schools among the top 100 in the RPI and has a conference RPI of eight (out of 24).
Vermont (11-6-3) beat Binghamton, 1-0, in the America East championship game Sunday to win its fifth America East title and earn its ninth NCAA bid. Brian Wright scored the lone goal and earned the tournament's Most Outstanding Player honor.
Boston College (9-7-1) received an at-large bid and has the 15th-best RPI in the nation in the latest ratings.
The winner of Thursday's contest will travel to 14th-seeded South Florida for a second-round game on Sunday.