UCSB will learn Monday what road it must travel to return to Harder Stadium for the NCAA Men’s Soccer College Cup.
The 48-team field for the NCAA Tournament will be announced between 1:30 and 2 p.m. on ESPNU and UCSB Athletics will host a public viewing party for the selection show.
The show will be broadcast on the big screen at the Reitnouer Auditorium in the Intercollegiate Athletics Building on campus. Players and coaches will be in attendance.
The Gauchos are making their ninth straight NCAA Tournament appearance after beating Cal State Fullerton 3-1 on Saturday to claim their first Big West Conference Tournament championship. They are one of 22 automatic qualifiers. The other 26 teams will be chosen by the selection committee.
Joining the Gauchos with automatic bids are the following conference champions: Maryland (ACC), Maryland Baltimore County (American East), East Tennessee State (American South), Xavier (Atlantic 10), Louisville (Big East), Coastal Carolina (Big South), Michigan (Big Ten), William & Mary (CAA), South Carolina (Conference USA), Butler (Horizon), Princeton (Ivy), St. Peter’s (MAAC), Akron (Mid-American), Bradley (Missouri Valley), Sacramento State (MPSF) Monmouth (Northeast), California (Pac-10), Bucknell (Patriot), UNC Greensboro (Southern), Oakland (Summit), Santa Clara (West Coast Conference).
UCSB is hoping their 13-4-2 record, strength of schedule and victories over nationally ranked UCLA and Duke will persuade the committee to award it a top 16 seed and a first-round bye.
The Gauchos are 9-1-0 at home in the NCAA Tournament. Their lone loss was against Cal in the second round in 2008.
UCSB is hosting the 2010 NCAA Men’s College Cup on Dec. 10 and 12 at Meredith Field at Harder Stadium. This marks the first time since the 2004 season that the Cup has been held on the West Coast.
