Men's Soccer Earns Top Seed in GNAC Tournament

Boston, Mass. (10/24/12) – The Great Northeast Athletic Conference has announced the 2012 Men's Soccer Championship Bracket featuring eight teams with tournament play scheduled to begin on Saturday, Oct. 27.

After compiling a 9-1 conference mark, Lasell College will don the No. 1 seed led by junior forward Mike Skelton (North Conway, N.H.). Skelton ranks first in the GNAC and tied for 17^th in the nation in goals with 14. The Lasers defensive unit is led by freshman keeper Miguel Colmenares (Caracas, Venezuela) who posted a 0.98 goals against average on the year. Lasell will face the No. 8 seed, Mount Ida College, who qualifies for the GNAC playoffs for the fifth time in six years. The Mustangs have only advanced past the Quarterfinals once when they downed Suffolk University, 1-0, in 2OT back in 2008.

Albertus Magnus, who was picked as the pre-season favorite in the coaches' poll, has earned the No. 2 seed and will host the No. 7 seed in Suffolk University. The Falcons are led by senior forward Stephen Zapata (Hamden, Conn.) who currently leads the GNAC in points with 36. Zapata also leads the GNAC and ranks tied for third in the nations with 12 assists. Despite only posting a 4-5-1 mark in conference play, the Rams netted 30 goals in league play to tie for the league high in GNAC action.

Saint Joseph's (ME) captured the No. 3 seed thanks to a head-to-head 2-1 double-overtime victory over Norwich University as both squads finished with a 6-3-1 GNAC slate. The defending GNAC Champions enter the tourney playing some of their best soccer of the season, riding a six-match winning streak in which they've outscored their opponents 11-2. The Monks will face the No. 6 seed, Emerson College, who finished the year 6-4 in conference. The Lions are also riding a six-game winning streak and will look to return to the GNAC Semifinals after getting upset last year in the 3/6 matchup vs. Emmanuel College.

The 4/5 matchup will feature Norwich University playing host to Johnson & Wales University. When the two squads met in the regular season, Norwich was able to come away with a 2-1 win when they erased a 1-0 halftime deficit with two second-half goals including the game-winner with just over four minutes remaining in regulation.

Winners of the GNAC Quaterfinals will meet in the Semifinals on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at the site of the higher seeds with the GNAC Finals set for Saturday, Nov. 3 at the site of the highest remaining seed in the tourney.