INDIANAPOLIS --- The Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet approved an adjustment proposed by the Division I Men’s Soccer Committee to the schedule for the Division I Men’s Soccer championship.
Currently, second-round games are conducted the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. The men’s soccer committee believed moving the second-round games to Sunday would improve the atmosphere of this round, increase attendance, and potentially increase revenue.
The first rounds will now be conducted on the Thursday after selections (selections are on Monday). Second rounds will be held on the Sunday three weeks prior to the finals, and the third rounds will be on the Sunday two weeks prior to the finals.
In addition, the quarterfinals will be on the Friday, Saturday or Sunday one week preceding the finals.
“The NCAA Men’s Soccer Committee is dedicated to improving all aspects of the Division I Men’s Soccer championship every year,” said John Diffley, chair of the Division I Men’s Soccer Committee and senior associate athletic director of administration at Saint John’s University in New York. “After hearing the soccer coaches’ proposal for this change, the committee agreed that the date change would improve attendance for NCAA games held during Thanksgiving week, and ultimately enhance the championships.”
The 2009 NCAA Men’s College Cup will take place in Cary, N.C., for the third time in five years. All games will be played at WakeMed Soccer Park with the semifinals set for Friday, Dec. 11 and the championship game on Sunday, Dec. 13. The first semifinal will be played at 5 p.m. and will air live on ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPN360.com. The second semifinal will be played at 7:30 p.m., live on ESPNU, with a re-broadcast of the match on ESPN2, Dec. 12 at 11 a.m. All game times are Eastern.
Below is a breakdown of the new 2009 schedule:
First Round: Thursday, Nov. 19
Second Round: Sunday, Nov. 22
Third Round: Sunday, Nov. 29
Quarterfinals: Friday, Dec. 4 - Saturday, Dec. 5 - or Sunday, Dec. 6
Semifinals: Friday, Dec. 11
Final: Sunday, Dec. 13
For more information about Division I Men’s Soccer, log on to NCAA.com.
