The NCAA Division III Men’s Tournament began on Wednesday with seven first-round games. It continues this weekend with action at eight regional sites. Here’s a look at the top five teams in the final NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division III rankings of the regular season. (Tomorrow: the D3 women’s top five.)
1. TRINITY (TEXAS). Making their 10th trip to the NCAA Tournament, the Tigers (18-1-0) have emerged as a national powerhouse in recent years. They won the D3 title in 2003 and reached the quarterfinals in 2005. German Gomez (26 points), Patrick Floeck (25) and Ben Stewart (25) lead a balanced attack that has averaged 4.17 goals a game.
2. YORK. The Spartans (19-0-2) won their second straight Capital Athletic Conference tournament title after going through the regular season unblemished at 19-0-2. Andrew Wheeler (18 goals, 10 assists) was the CSC Player of the Year. Midfielder Chris Ports (10 goals) has been outstanding since returning to full strength.
3. MESSIAH. The Falcons’ 46-game unbeaten streak ended in the Commonwealth Conference semifinals when they lost to Elizabethtown, 1-0, despite outshooting the Blue Jays, 18-1. The goal was only only the eighth Messiah (16-1-1) has given up all season. Patrick Lenehan leads the defending D3 champions with 14 goals.
4. REDLANDS. In his first year, veteran MLS and U.S. Soccer coach Ralph Perez has the Bulldogs firing on all cylinders. They crushed Caltech, 8-0, last week to finish the regular season at 19-1-0 with 12 wins in a row. Redlands will have to leave California for St. Louis, where they open tournament play against Fontbonne on Friday.
5. OHIO WESLEYAN. The Bishops fell to Allegheny on penalty kicks in the North Coast Athletic Conference semifinals. Goalie Jamison Dague takes a 0.30 goals-against average into the NCAA Tournament.