NEW LONDON, Conn. – The nationally-ranked Connecticut College men's soccer team learned today that it will play host to an opening weekend of the NCAA Division III Tournament for the second time ever when selections were announced for the 64-team annual event earlier this afternoon.
 
The Camels, who are making their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and their fifth overall, have already won their first NESCAC regular season title and advanced to the league's championship match for the first time in program history. The team will host Salem State on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. and be joined by New York University and St. Joseph's (Maine) who will face off at 1:30 p.m. The winners will advance to play a second round match on Sunday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. Ticket prices for each match will be $10 for adults and $3 for students.
 
Connecticut College (14-4) has relied on one of the league's top offenses, which is also extremely balanced, along with a stellar defense to find success so far this season. Sophomore Rye Jaran (Downingtown, Pa.) paces the offense with 14 points on five goals and four assists to date. Juniors Augie Djerdjaj (Mahopac, N.Y.) and Steve Yeonas (McLean, Va.) are among the veterans who continue to be offensive threats, and 17 players have registered a point.
 
Defensively, junior goalkeeper Sam Maidenberg (South Orange. N.J.) has stepped up between the posts following the graduation of AJ Marcucci, a two-time United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team selection, and has registered an .845 save percentage to go along with an 0.71 goals against average to date. Both marks rank among the best in the NESCAC. Freshmen Jorge Mendo (Zaragosa, Spain) and Jack Kelesoglu (Westfield, N.J.) have been among the leaders of a young and talented back line.
 
Connecticut College will be one of 16 sites for the first and second rounds that are taking place this coming weekend. All of the sites will use a single-elimination format. Sixteen second-round winners will advance to one of four sectional championship sites on Nov. 20-21, and the winners of the four sectional sites will advance to the national semifinals on Dec. 3 at the UNC Greensboro Soccer Stadium in Greensboro, N.C. The final will take place a day later on Dec. 4.
 
Saturday, Nov. 13
 
Game One: Connecticut College vs. Salem State, 11 a.m.
 
Game Two: NYU vs. St. Joseph's (Maine), 1:30 p.m.
 
Sunday, Nov. 14
 
Game Three: Game One Winner vs. Game Two Winner, 1:00 p.m.