GLENSIDE, Pa. – The fifth-seeded Arcadia University men's soccer team is set to travel to top-seeded Messiah Thursday for the MAC Commonwealth Championship Tournament Semifinal at 7 p.m.
TICKETING INFORMATION: Per conference policy, all fans must pay admission for playoff contests. Prices are as follows: adults $5, seniors $4, students $2 and children under the age of six are free.
MERCHANDISE: Long sleeve t-shirts will be available for purchase for $18 each while supplies last.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
First-Round Game – Tuesday, November 1
Game 1 – No. 5 Arcadia 0, No. 4 Hood 0 (Arcadia advances on PKs 4-3)
Semifinals: Thursday, November 3
Game 2 – No. 5 Arcadia at No. 1 Messiah 7 p.m.
Game 3 – No. 3 Alvernia at No. 2 Lebanon Valley 2 p.m.
Final: Saturday, November 5
Game 4 – Game 2 Winner vs Game 3 Winner [at highest remaining seed]
LIVE COVERAGE: Can't make it to the game? Follow along with live stats or watch the live video stream.
ABOUT ARCADIA: After starting 6-2-1 in non-conference action, the Knights went 0-2-1 in their first three MAC Commonwealth games. Arcadia turned its season around by winning its next three conference matches before the season ended with a 3-3-2 MAC Commonwealth mark. A 1-1 tie at Widener secured a playoff spot for the Scarlet and Grey before ending the regular season with a 3-0 setback to No. 9 Messiah. Sophomore
Ryan Hammer sealed the penalty kick shootout for Arcadia in Tuesday's play-in game at Hood to advance the Knights to the semifinals.
ARCADIA LEADERS: Arcadia is led by junior
Bradley McKim, who has 11 goals and four assists for 26 points. Classmate
Tyler Ihle is the team's second-leading point getter with seven points on three goals and an assist. Four different players have recorded six points; freshman
Pat Hartman collected his on three goals, while junior
Ryan Keeter and sophomores
Ryan Hammer and
Manny Camacho each scored twice and handing out two assists. In goal, junior
Chris Watson is 9-6-4 record season with a 0.96 goals against average and a .793 save percentage on 253 shots faced.
ABOUT MESSIAH: The Falcons enter the night unbeaten at 15-0-3, including an 8-0 conference mark. After tying Misericordia 1-1 back on September 24, Messiah ended the regular season with 10 straight wins allowing just one goal in that span.
MESSIAH LEADERS: With 10 goals and six assists, Jacob Bender leads the Falcons with 26 points, however Kirby Robbins leads the team in goals (11) while Colby Thomas tops the team in assists (8). Robbins added two assists for a total of 24 points, while Thomas found the back of the net five times totaling 18 points. Nick West rounds up the double-digit point getters with 12 on three goals and six helpers. In goal, Connor Bell owns a 15-0-3 record with a 0.40 goals against average, .825 save percentage on 96 shots faced while posted nine shutouts.
LAST MEETING: The Knights and Falcons met on Easton Field in the regular season finale with the visitors claiming a 3-0 win. Robbins scored the game's first two goals with Will Cochran adding the third.
PLAYOFF HISTORY: This marks the sixth MAC Commonwealth Championship Tournament appearance for Arcadia, and third in a row. The Knights are looking for their first conference playoff win since 2009 when they defeated Elizabethtown 1-0 in the semifinals.
