CHAMPIONSHIP PAGE

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference Men’s Soccer Championship returns to Greensboro, North Carolina, for Saturday’s final between top-seeded UNCG and No. 3 seed Mercer. Game time is set for 6 p.m. from UNCG Soccer Stadium, with the winner earning the SoCon’s automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship.
 
The battle pits the No. 7 team in the country in the Spartans against the defending-champion Bears. UNCG has fashioned a 12-1-4 overall record this season, including a 4-0-1 SoCon mark to claim its ninth SoCon regular-season title. Mercer is 8-4-6 on the season and went 2-1-2 in league play.
 
UNCG earned its way to the final with a 6-3 win over Furman in the semifinals on Sunday, Nov. 6. Marco Afonso recorded a hat trick and added an assist for a seven-point day to lead the Spartans, whose half-dozen goals were a season high. JC Ngando, the SoCon Player of the Year, assisted on two of Afonso’s goals, while Basile Marc, Emmanuel Hagan and Maycol Reyes joined Afonso in finding the back of the net. Reyes also recorded an assist on the afternoon.
 
The Spartans are seeking their first SoCon tournament title since the 2020-21 spring season and fifth overall.
 
Mercer earned its sixth title game appearance by topping No. 6 seed VMI 2-1 on Nov. 4 and No. 2 seed ETSU 1-0 on Nov. 6, both in Johnson City, Tennessee. The Bears got goals from Sekou Agard and Michael Ille in the win over the Keydets, while Dylan Gaither, last season’s tournament Most Valuable Player, notched the lone score in the win over the Bucs two days later. Trevor McMullen logged four saves in the shutout win over ETSU.
 
The Bears are looking for their fifth title since 2016 and second straight after topping former SoCon member Belmont 4-3 in last year’s title match in Macon, Georgia.
 
UNCG and Mercer have squared off in the SoCon tournament four times previously, with the Bears holding the 2-1-1 advantage. All four games have been low-scoring affairs, with Mercer claiming 1-0 wins in the 2014 semifinals and the 2019 title game and UNCG taking a 1-0 win in the 2018 semis. The squads played to a 1-1 draw in the 2017 championship tilt, with the Bears prevailing in penalty kicks, 3-2, to claim the title.
 
The SoCon Championship title game will be played in Greensboro for the 13th time overall and the third time in the last four seasons. The first seven editions of the tournament took place in the city, with the inaugural championship in 1988 being played at E.E. Smith High School. The next six were played at Bryan Park, and UNCG hosted the tournament at its UNCG Soccer Stadium for the first time in 2007. The Spartans will be hosting the tournament final at UNCG Soccer Stadium for the sixth time.
 
Saturday’s contest will air live on ESPN+, with Jason Patterson (play-by-play) and Phil Cox (color) on the call. The NCAA Selection show will air on NCAA.com on Monday at 1 p.m.
 
2022 Men's Soccer Championship
Friday, Nov. 4
Quarterfinals (at No. 1 & No. 2 seeds)
Match 1: No. 5 Furman 3, No. 4 Wofford 2 (Greensboro, N.C.)
Match 2: No. 3 Mercer 2, No. 6 VMI 1 (Johnson City, Tenn.)
 
Sunday, Nov. 6
Semifinals (at No. 1 & No. 2 seeds)
Match 3: No. 1 UNCG 6, No. 5 Furman 3
Match 4: No. 3 Mercer 1, No. 2 ETSU 0
 
Saturday, Nov. 12
Final (at highest remaining seed)
Match 5: No. 3 Mercer at No. 1 UNCG, 6 p.m.
 
* All times Eastern unless otherwise noted.