Nov. 15:  The St. Lawrence University men's soccer team, nationally-ranked #16, will battle Thomas College of Maine tomorrow at 11:00 am at Sandy MacAllaster Field in the first round of the 2013 NCAA Div. III men's soccer tournament.  These two teams are meeting for the first time in history on the soccer field.

Plattsburgh State will take on Wheaton College in the other first round game at Sandy MacAllaster Field at 1:30pm.  Both games, along with the second round game on Sunday, will be broadcast in HD with live stats available.  Check out the NCAA Tournament Page for additional details, including a link to the Official NCAA Div. III Men's Soccer Championship Program.   

The Saints are making their 18th NCAA tournament appearance after beating Skidmore College in the Liberty League tournament championship last Saturday.  Senior captain Andrew Bednarksy, the Liberty League's 2013 Player of the Year, scored the game-winner in the 3-1 victory and was named MVP of the tournament.  He leads the Saints with 20 points (6g,8a), while assistant captain Mark Provost has totaled 19 points (6g,7a) this season.
St. Lawrence boasts one of the best defenses in the country and has given up seven goals this season, and just two since Sept. 7th.  Junior goalkeeper Aaron Costello, the 2013 Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year, anchors the Saints' defense as he has established a new record with 15 shutouts this season while leading the nation in goals against average (.213). 

St. Lawrence head coach Bob Durocher led the young Saints to the NCAA tournament for the 16th time in his career.  Durocher, who has compiled a 304-98-43 record at the helm, earned Conference Coach of the Year along with his staff of Tommy Crabill, Chris Custer and Willi Steinrotter.  It was the 12th time he has garnered the award.  The Saints are 23-13-2 in the NCAA tournament under Durocher's direction, and has won at least one game in each of its last 14 trips to the tournament. 

Meanwhile, Thomas College is making its third NCAA tournament appearance in program history, having defeated Colby-Sawyer, 4-1, in the North Atlantic Conference finals last Saturday.  The Terriers earned the NAC crown and automatic NCAA bid for the second consecutive. 

Thomas enters the weekend with a 12-7-1 record and has won seven of their last eight games, including a 2-0 victory over Castleton in the semifinals before topping Colby Sawyer, 4-1, in the championship game.  Their lone loss in that eight game span was to Castleton in the regular season by a 1-0 overtime decision. 

The Terriers lead the NAC in goals (52), shots per game (18.2) and shot percentage (.143), and have allowed 20 goals this season with a .98 goals against average.  Mikkail Crockwell, a second team NAC selection, anchors the Thomas defense in goal, recording a .814 save percentage and four shutouts on the season with a 10-6-1 record. 
Thomas senior forward Michael Hand leads the Terrier offense with 30 points this season (12g,6a).  Named the MVP of the NAC tourney, Hand had four goals and two assists in the playoffs to lead the Terriers to their second consecutive NAC Championship.  Dakota Duplissie and Tre Ming have contributed 20 points apiece this season – Duplissie with nine goals and two assists, and Ming with six goals and eight assists.