DeLand, Fla. -The Stetson men's soccer team and many of their supporters gathered at the DeLand Beef O' Brady's Monday evening to watch the NCAA selection show broadcast on ESPN News. When the bracket appeared on the screen a loud cheer erupted as Stetson was the first team listed.
The Hatters (14-3-2) will be heading down I-4 to Tampa Thursday night to take on the USF Bulls (13-3-3) at 7:30 p.m. The winning team will travel to Akron, Ohio for a Sunday match with the #1 team in the nation, the University of Akron Zips. There are 48 teams in the field with the top 16 receiving a first round bye.
Stetson earned an automatic bid into this year's field after defeating Mercer University 2-1 in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship on Sunday. The Hatters are making their second appearance in the NCAA tournament. In 2005 the Hatters played the same Bulls team in the first round and lost by a score of 3-0.
Stetson is 3-12-1 all-time against USF, a figure that does not include a 3-0 loss in a preseason exhibition game on August 27.
"We are looking forward to playing them again... especially under these circumstances", said Stetson Head Coach T. Logan Fleck. "I have some great friends there."
Fleck coached at USF for 12 years; three years for the men's program and nine with the women.
Also looking forward to the opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament is A-Sun Defensive Player of the Year and a Stetson team captain Robert Hodge. The senior from Devon, England arrived a year after Stetson's last appearance.
"This is what we have been working towards all season. We set a goal as a team and so far we achieved that goal", said Hodge. "I was a part of the team when we played a big TV game (2006) against them and we lost. Now hopefully it is our turn".
Courtesy: Stetson University
