NCAA Release | Interactive Bracket | Printable Bracket

RINDGE, N.H. (November 7, 2016) – The Franklin Pierce men's soccer team earned a trip to the 2016 NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament for the first time since the 2012 season with an "at large" selection on Monday evening.

The pod pairings and the seeding was announced during the selection show that you can view here.

The no. 4 Ravens (12-5) will travel to host no. 1 LIU – Post and square off against Northeast-10 Conference opponent no. 5 Merrimack (14-5) at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday. This season, the Crimson and Grey defeated the Warriors 1-0 back on October 15th in Rindge with Niklas Laudahn (Olfen, Germany) scoring the game-winner in the 84th minute off a 40 yard free kick from teammate Jacob Blixt (Borrby, Sweden).

On November 9, 2012, FPU faced Merrimack in the NCAA First Round and lost by a 1-0 margin. Alejandro Fuchs racked up the lone goal in the 84th minute to send Merrimack onto the second round.

"Merrimack is a very good and experienced team, but I believe that the men are up for the challenge" said head coach Roy Fink, who is coaching in his first ever NCAA Tournament game. "It's never easy to beat a team twice in the same year but this group of men can beat anyone when we play our game."

The Crimson and Grey are led by graduate captain Marius Preber (Jessheim, Norway) who was an NE-10 First Team selection and led the conference in goals (13) while ranking second in total points (28) and sixth in shots (48).

Rounding out the regional is no. 2 and NE-10 Champion Adelphi who will host a pod that includes no. 3 Le Moyne and no. 6 Southern New Hampshire. The victor of the Dolphins and Penmen match will advance to play the Panthers in round two.

The final two teams standing after this weekend will play in the East Region Final next week hosted by the highest remaining seed.