Men's Soccer Set to Face No. 7 Connecticut College in NCAA Tournament First Round

NEW LONDON, Conn. — The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's soccer team, which captured its second-consecutive and third overall Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship this past Saturday, is set to square off against intrastate foe Connecticut College (CC) in the First Round of the 2025 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament. The matchup will take place at Freeman Field in New London, Conn., on Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m.

The Blue Jays and 63 other teams learned their postseason draw Monday afternoon during the NCAA Selection Show. Now, the nation's top Division III programs begin their quest for the national title, with first-round matchups kicking off on Friday, November 14, and Saturday, November 15. USJ looks to become the first GNAC program to win an NCAA Tournament game since Saint Joseph's College of Maine in 2018.

Tickets are required for Saturday's contest. They will be available at the gate for $6 for general admission, $3 for senior citizens, veterans, and students with valid ID, $2 for children under 12, and free for children under two. Cash and credit will be accepted.

USJ BLUE JAYS (13-4-2, 9-1-2 GNAC) vs. No. 7 CONNECTICUT COLLEGE CAMELS (10-3-5, 4-2-4 NESCAC) 
LOCATION: Freeman Field (New London, Conn.)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, Nov. 15 (11 a.m.)  
WATCH: Live Stream 
LIVE STATS: Live Stats 
TWITTER: @USJ_BlueJays | #FearTheFlock | #GoBlueJays | #D3soc

USJ QUICK HITS

• USJ earned its spot in the NCAA Tournament after winning the program's second-consecutive and third overall GNAC title this past Saturday.

• The Blue Jays, who enter at 13-4-2, are making their second-straight and third overall NCAA Tournament appearance.

• The offense is led by GNAC Offensive Player of the Year sophomore midfielder Mario Milardo (Middletown, Conn.), who posted 28 points on 11 goals and six assists. He ranked third in the GNAC in points, goals, and assists and placed in the top 70 nationally across all three categories.

• Senior forward Emmanuel Ofori (East Hartford, Conn.) added 23 points on nine goals and five assists, while posting a .581 shots-on-goal percentage (66th nationally).

• The defense is anchored by GNAC Defensive Player of the Year senior captain Nicholas Simpson (Mansfield, Conn.), who led a back line that recorded seven shutouts. Simpson also contributed nine points, converting all four penalty kick attempts.

• GNAC Rookie of the Year sophomore midfielder Nico Hamzavi (West Hartford, Conn.) posted 14 points on four goals and a team-high six assists.

• Sophomore goalkeeper Will Slayton (Manchester, Conn.) enters the tournament with a 12-2-2 record, 61 saves, a .792 save percentage, and a 1.07 GAA.

SCOUTING CONNECTICUT COLLEGE

• The nationally ranked No. 7 Camels earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament after finishing 10-3-5 overall and 4-2-4 in NESCAC play.

• CC was the No. 5 seed in the NESCAC playoffs and reached the championship game before falling to top-seeded Tufts.

• The Camels are making their eighth NCAA Tournament appearance and third straight.

• Connecticut College has emerged as a national power, winning the 2021 NCAA Championship and finishing as national runner-up in 2024, falling to Amherst on penalty kicks.

• Junior midfielder Marco Perugini, an All-NESCAC First Team selection, leads the team with 15 points on five goals and five assists. He leads the conference in shots (65) and shots on goal (22).

• Junior forward Gavin Mpiana, also an All-NESCAC First Team honoree, tallied 10 points on four goals and two assists.

• NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year junior midfielder Max Haberman anchors the defensive unit, which has allowed just 12 goals and posted eight shutouts.

• Senior goalkeeper TJ Krongard has appeared in all but one match, holding a 9-3-5 record with 44 saves, seven shutouts, and a 0.71 GAA.

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Saturday marks the first-ever meeting between USJ and Connecticut College.

• USJ is 1-2-0 all-time against NESCAC opponents, splitting with Trinity College (1-1-0) and falling to Wesleyan (0-1-0).

• CC is 23-0-0 all-time against GNAC opponents, including:

  • 17-0-0 vs. Mitchell College

  • 4-0-0 vs. Albertus Magnus College

  • 2-0-0 vs. Elms College

UP NEXT 

With a victory, USJ would advance to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history, where it would face the winner of Babson vs. SUNY Oneonta on Sunday, November 16, at 1:00 p.m. at Freeman Field.

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