Fourth-Seed and Defending NJCAA Division Men's Soccer Champion Monroe Mustangs Set To Defend Title Against Seventh-Seed Tyler Junior College
(Photo Courtesy of Stockton Photos)
Wichita, Kansas - Tomorrow, the Monroe Mustang men's soccer team has the opportunity to become the first team to win back-to-back NJCAA Division I men's Soccer Championships since 2017. After winning the title last year in Melbourne, Florida, the Mustangs kick-off against Tyler Junior College in a battle of two powerhouse men's soccer programs in NJCAA Division I.
CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION
2023 NJCAA Div. I Men's Soccer Championship
Final: Saturday, Nov. 18 – 5:00 PM ET (4:00 PM CT)
Stryker Sports Complex – Wichita, Kansas
CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE
Watch Live exclusively on ESPN+
Live Stats: MonroeCollegeMustangs.com/MSOCLiveStats
The Mustangs and Apaches traveled on different paths to this year's national championship game. Monroe College entered as the No. 4 seed, having won the East District Championship, and was the top team in Pool D for the pool-play round of the tournament. Tyler got into the tournament as an at-large selection after falling to Angelina College in the Gulf South District Final. As the No. 7 seed, Tyler was the middle team in Pool B.
The Mustangs opened tourney play last Sunday against ninth-seed Cowley College, defeating them in a penalty-kick shootout, in which the Mustangs came out on top, 4-2. Monroe College picked up a 1-0 victory over No. 5 Angelina in their following matchup to win Pool D and advance to the semifinals. Monroe took on Pool C winner, No. 3 Salt Lake Community College, in Thursday's semifinal. Neither team was able to get on the board in the game, requiring another penalty-kick shootout to determine a winner. The Mustangs were again triumphant with a 3-2 win in the shootout to move on to Saturday's championship.
Tyler started its week on Monday against No. 11 Murray State College, picking up a 4-2 victory in its first Pool B matchup. On Tuesday, the Apaches then upset the No. 2 seed, Eastern Florida State College, 1-0 to become Pool B's representative in the semifinals. Facing off with No. 1 Arizona Western, the Apaches took a 4-1 lead on the Matadors before a late run closed the gap at 4-3, but Tyler held on to pick up the win and advance to the championship game.