Jacksonville Learns NCAA Fate; Faces Louisville on Friday
Date Posted: 11/17/2008
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The JU men's soccer team will travel to face Louisville on Friday for the first round of the NCAA Tournament at 7 p.m.
The Dolphins (11-8-1) earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament after rallying in two matches to win the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship in Buies Creek, N.C. on Nov. 15. The Cardinals (11-7-2) get an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament by reaching the Big East quarterfinals before falling to No. 9 Notre Dame.
The winner of this match will face No. 13 national seed North Carolina in Chapel, N.C. on Nov. 25 at 6 p.m.
“This is an exciting draw for us,” said JU head coach Mike Johnson. “The Cardinals are a good team, who has been ranked as high as the top-20. We don't know much about them, but they must good and well-coached since they play in the tough Bigh East Conference. We are definitley going to have to play our best to get a good result."
The Dolphins reach the tournament for the first time since 1998 season, while the Cardinals in the dance for the second consecutive year.
This will be the second overall meeting between the two schools in their respective histories. The Cardinals downed the Dolphins, 2-1, at the FIU/Umbro Classic in Miami, Fla. during the 1998 campaign.
