Conference tournament play heats up as area teams seek NCAA tournament bids

While many local college soccer teams have closed their seasons, there are a number of programs in the region still vying for a spot in the NCAA Tournament with conference play heating up in the area and bids on the line.

Division 1 women’s soccer in the Philly area came to a close on Sunday with Delaware falling on penalty kicks but Lafayette women are into the Patriot League semifinals after defeating Holy Cross in penalties on Sunday. They’ll travel to Boston to take on Boston University on Thursday with a chance to book a spot in Sunday’s final. The Patriot League men’s tournament begins on Saturday with the final slated for Nov. 15. Lehigh, Lafayette and Bucknell have all booked spots in the tournament.

Saint Joseph’s men will travel to second seed Fordham on Saturday and La Salle head to Saint Louis to face the No. 1 seed in the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals on Friday. Drexel and Temple’s seasons have come to a close and Villanova has Holy Family on Tuesday and their final game of the season at Marquette on Friday. Penn plays Princeton at home on Saturday evening with a spot in the Ivy League tournament secured after a 3-0 win over Yale.

Delaware visits league leaders Kansas City on Wednesday to wrap up the regular season. The Summit League tournament kicks off on Sunday.

Millersville booked a spot in the postseason and won the PSAC East over the weekend thanks to a brace from rookie Brian O’Neill (Jenkintown, Pa.) in a 2-0 win over Bloomsburg. West Chester University women clinched at least a share of the PSAC East with a win over Lock Haven on Saturday. Kutztown, Millersville and Bloomsburg have also clinched berths into the PSAC tournament. Several local teams are in the running for the CACC tournaments, which kick off this weekend. Jefferson, Wilmington, Chestnut Hill and Goldey-Beacom women and Wilmington, Jefferson and Holy Family men are in position to make the tournament.

Scranton’s men’s and women’s teams both earned the top seed in the Landmark Conference tournament. Lycoming’s two teams are also still alive and Susquehanna is in the women’s semifinal.

Messiah’s men’s and women’s teams are both the top seeds in the MAC Commonwealth Conference tournaments while both York teams and Eastern women are in the semifinals. LVC and Misericordia’s men’s and women’s teams are in the MAC Freedom Conference tournament along with Arcadia women.

Neumann and Gwynedd Mercy each have both of their teams in the America East tournament. The top seed Neumann men’s team hosts Gwynedd Mercy on Tuesday. Neumann women travel to face Marymount and Gwynedd Meecy women visit top seed Marywood on Tuesday.

Dickinson men and Swarthmore women earned the top seeds in the Centennial Conference tournament. Dickinson, Gettysburg and Franklin & Marshall are also in the women’s tournament while Gettysburg, Haverford and Muhlenberg made the men’s tournament. Haverford hosts Muhlenberg in a first round match on Tuesday with the winner facing either Gettysburg or Dickinson in the semifinal.

Penn State Harrisburg’s teams are still alive in the United East tournament along with Penn State Berks women and Penn State Abington men.

Over in New Jersey, Rowan women host TCNJ on Tuesday in the NJAC semifinal and the Rowan men travel to face Stockton on Wednesday.

Tuesday, Nov. 4
Haverford men vs Muhlenberg, 2 p.m.

Neumann women at Marymount, 5 p.m.
Rowan women vs TCNJ, 6 p.m.
Messiah women vs Eastern, 6 p.m.

Neumann men vs Gwynedd Mercy, 7 p.m.

Gwynedd Mercy women at Marywood, 7 p.m.

York women vs Stevenson, 7 p.m.
LVC at Stevens, 7 p.m.
Misericordia women vs Arcadia, 7 p.m.
Dickinson women vs Washington College, 7 p.m.
Franklin & Marshall women vs Gettysburg, 7 p.m.
Penn State Harrisburg women vs Penn State Berks, 7 p.m.
Penn State Harrisburg men vs Penn State Abington, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 5
LVC vs FDU- Florham, 2 p.m.
Scranton men vs Drew, 4 p.m.
Messiah men vs Hood, 6 p.m.
Stockton men vs Rowan, 7 p.m.
York men at Stevenson, 7 p.m.
Scranton women vs Susquehanna, 7 p.m.
Misericordia men at Stevens, 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 7
Gettysburg men vs Higher seed first round winner, 5 p.m.
Dickinson men vs Lower seed first round winner, 5 p.m.
Swarthmore women vs Lower seed first round winner, 7 p.m.
Saint Joseph’s men at Fordham, 7 p.m.
La Salle men at Saint Louis, 8 p.m.