The NCAA Division I Men’s Tournament opens Friday and Saturday with 16 first-round games. Here are five to watch:
ST. JOHN’S-MONMOUTH. It’s something of a New York area derby with the Big East champion, winner of six games in a row by shutout, against the Northeast champion, which carries a 13-game unbeaten streak into Friday’s game. Former U.S. U-17 Ryan Soroka is one of five freshmen who start for the Red Storm. Hawks coach Rob McCourt (a former schoolboy teammate of John Harkes) has done a great job in three years at Monmouth. New Zealander Steven Holloway enters the postseason with a Monmouth single-season record of 18 goals.
UNC GREENSBORO-VIRGINIA TECH. Last year, UNCG beat the Hokies on penalties in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. This year, they meet in the first round Saturday in Greensboro. Both teams have been very inconsistent. UNCG returned a pair of All-Americans in Randi Patterson and Scott Jones but began 4-5-0 before turning things around. The Hokies lost in the ACC Tournament play-in but still made the NCAA Tournament. Ghanaian Patrick Nyarko leads the Hokies with 15 goals and eight assists.
SAN FRANCISCO-NEW MEXICO. Albuquerque was a happening place last fall as the Lobos advanced to the final of the Men’s College Cup. This year, they travel to Negoesco Field, where they face the Dons Friday night. USF is making its 30th NCAA Tournament appearance. UNM is only making its fifth appearance — all in the last six years. The Dons are led by midfielder Rob Valentino, the WCC Player of the Year. New Zealand international Andrew Boyens anchors a Lobo backline that otherwise consists of three freshmen.
LOYOLA, ILL.-NORTHERN ILLINOIS. Loyola and NIU, who meet Saturday, are two of a record five Illinois teams that made the NCAA Tournament. Second-year coach Brendan Eitz led Loyola to its first NCAA Tournament bid. NIU won the Mid-American title to earn its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1973. Although the Ramblers trail 4-11-2 in the series, they are 3-0-1 in the last four meetings. Defender Iradj Farahmand heads a Loyola defense that did not allow a shot on goal to UW-Green Bay in its 1-0 Horizon League championship victory.
CONNECTICUT-FAIRFIELD. The Nutmeg State rivals are less than 100 miles apart, but they’ve met only four times, most recently in 1996. This marks the ninth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament and 27th overall for UConn; the Stags make their first NCAA tournament appearance since the 1999 campaign. Jamaicans O’Brian White and Akeem Priestley are UConn’s top offensive threats. Englishmen Alex Cunliffe and Sam Bailey lead Fairfield’s attack.