LAS VEGAS – The Connecticut College men's soccer team is set to take on No. 21 Washington & Lee University on Thursday night in the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Championship.

The game, which kicks off at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT at Peter Johann Memorial Field, is a rematch of the 2021 national semifinal. Amherst College and Middlebury College will battler earlier in the day for the other spot in the title round.

The Camels (13-2-7 overall) are making their second national semifinal appearance in the last four years. Conn is 1-0 in the semifinal round with a win over W&L in 2021 in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

The Generals (15-3-6) are making their second straight national semifinal appearance and third in the last four seasons. W&L has appeared in the semifinal round of the NCAA Championship three time in its history, with a 0-1-1 record in the previous two appearances.

Tickets for the game can be purchased at the gate. The game also will be streamed live on NCAA.com.

CAMELS IN THE NCAA
Connecticut College enters the Final Four with an all-time record of 13-5-4 in the NCAA Championship. The Camels have made the Elite Eight in four of the last five tournaments, and are making their second Final Four appearance in program history. Conn won the national title in 2021.

BACK IN THE FINAL FOUR
A total of 11 seniors on the Connecticut College roster were members of the team during the 2021 national title run. Six field players saw action in both the semifinal and final – Jorge Mendo, Alessandro Horvath Diano, Rye Jaran, Matt Scoffone, Jake Creus and Jack Kelesoglu – while goalkeeper Peter Silvester subbed in for penalty kicks in the title game. 

WE MEET AGAIN
Thursday's semifinal between Connecticut College and Washington & Lee will be a rematch of the 2021 semifinal, which ended in dramatic fashion when Steve Yeonas scored on a diving header in the 100th minute to give the Camels a 2-1 overtime victory in Greensboro, N.C. After a scoreless first half, the Generals drew first blood on a goal by Adrian Zimmerman in the 74th minute. Conn equalized in the 83rd on a tally by MT Tshuma, who scored from 25 yards out on a shot that deflected off the right post. In extra time, Rye Jaran crossed a ball from the left corner that Yeonas finished with a diving header on a back post run. 

OTHER SIDE OF THE BRACKET
The Camels are familiar with the teams in Thursday's other semifinal match-up, having faced each twice already this season. Conn played to a 0-0 draw against Middlebury during the regular season before defeating the Panthers 3-1 in the NESCAC title game. The Camels dropped the regular season meeting with Amherst 1-0 but advanced past the Mammoths in penalty kicks in the NESCAC quarterfinals. 

NESCAC IN THE FINALS
With three teams in the Final Four, the NESCAC is guaranteed at least one representative in the title game for a sixth tournament in a row, and ninth in 10 years. During that span, the league has produced six national title winners – most recently with the Camels in 2021 – and two All-NESCAC finals (Conn vs. Amherst in 2021, and Tufts vs. Amherst in 2019). All three NESCAC programs are looking to claim a second national title, as Amherst won in 2015 while Middlebury won in 2007. 

ALL-REGION HONORS
As announced by the United Soccer Coaches on Tuesday afternoon, Conn College seniors Matt Scoffone (first team) and Peter Silvester (second team) earned all-region honors. Both were repeat selections, having earned the distinction in 2023.

NESCAC CHAMPIONS
Prior to their NCAA run, the men's soccer team made history by winning the NESCAC Championship for the first time ever. Sixth-seeded Conn knocked off three top-20 opponents en route to the title, securing the crown with a 3-1 victory over No. 3 Middlebury. Marco Perugini, Gavin Vanden Berg and Elliot Spatz all provided goals in the final, and goalkeeper Peter Silvester made the margin stand with seven saves. The NESCAC title was the second in school history, and the first by a men's program. The Conn College women's soccer team also achieved the feat in 2014.

HEAD COACH REUBEN BURK FILE
Reuben Burk has led the Camels to new heights in his short time at the helm. In six seasons he has produced the first national championship (2021), first NESCAC Championship (2024) and first unbeaten regular season (2023) in program history. Conn has made a total of four NCAA appearances during his tenure, and has advanced to at least the round of eight in each. Burk owns an overall record of 65-18-23 at Conn, including a 25-11-4 mark in NESCAC regular season action and a 12-2-4 record in NCAA tournament play.