Lindenwood Lions 2016
The NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Committee announced the field of 38 teams for the 2016 Division II Men’s Soccer Championship. Two to six teams were selected from each of the eight regions. Teams from the same region will be paired for first- and/or second-round competition, which will be conducted November 10-13 on campus sites. Third-round/quarterfinals will be held on campus sites and completed by November 20. The semifinals and final will be played December 1 and 3 at Children’s Mercy Victory Field at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri, hosted by Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and Kansas City Sports Commission.
St. Louis is directly represented by the Lindenwood Lions, ranked #20 nationally by the NCAA. The Lions earned the No. 2 seed in the Central Region and will automatically advance to the round of 16 on Friday, November 18 against Fort Hays State.
Lindenwood won the MIAA championship for the third time in five seasons, after the team played to a 13-3-2 record during the regular season. Prior to Sunday’s 2-0 loss versus Fort Hays State, Lindenwood had a 12-match winning-streak dating back to mid-September. Lindenwood is led offensively by Xhovani Dokaj (CBC). Dokaj established a new MIAA single-season record with his 16 goals scored this season. Dokaj currently ranks 12th in Division II with his 16 goals, and his 36 points rank 16th in the country. The team includes 10 area players including so. Kyle Weinrich (St. Charles West) who leads the team with eight assists.
Rockhurst is the top-seeded team in the NCAA Midwest Region with a 16-2-2 record. This marks the ninth NCAA Tournament appearance for the Hawks since 2002. Rockhurst will receive a first-round bye and will host a second-round game Sunday, Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. against the winner of Friday’s first-round game between Southern Indiana and Quincy.
The Hawks have 19 players from the St. Louis region on their roster. Two of them were recognized by the GLVC recently. Jr. Kaleb Jackson (DeSmet) was voted by the league coaches as GLVC Offensive Player of the Year, while jr. Connor Mullen (DeSmet) was picked as the Defensive Player of the Year. Adam Michel (Vianney) was named 2nd Team All-GLVC.
The University of Southern Indiana (USI) is making its first visit to the NCAA Division II Tournament in 34 years, dating back to its 1982 match with Oakland City University at Strassweg Field. The fourth-seeded USI men’s team takes on the fifth-seeded Quincy University in the first round of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Friday at 7 p.m. at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri. The USI (13-3-3)-Quincy University (12-5-2) winner advances to play top-seeded Rockhurst (16-2-2) for the right to advance to the round of 16.
USI freshman midfielder Sean Rickey (Columbia, IL) is USI’s active scoring leader with 19 points on six goals and a team-high seven assists. In addition high school teammate Adam Becker (Columbia, IL) – 10 starts, including last 5, and 16 games – and Drew Albert (Eureka) – 10 starts, 14 games – are members of the team.
Quincy Hawks
Drury Panthers
