Highlighted by five national seeds, the Atlantic Coast Conference placed seven teams in the field of 48 of the 2014 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship.The seven bids are the most from any conference in the country, the second-straight year the ACC has placed the most teams in the tournament. It is the 14th consecutive year with at least five ACC teams in the tournament, and it ties for the second most in league history.
Notre Dame (11-4-4) claimed the #1 overall seed, the 12th time in the last 20 years that an ACC squad has been the top seed in the tournament. ACC Champion and seventh-seeded Clemson (11-6-3), #9 Syracuse (15-3-1), #13 Louisville (10-7-3), and #16 Virginia (10-6-2) all earned first-round byes and the right to host the second round.
North Carolina (12-5-1) and Wake Forest (10-7-1) received at-large bids and will open tournament play in the first round on Thursday, Nov. 20.
The Irish, the 2013 NCAA National Champions and the 2014 ACC Coastal Division Champions, are the #1 overall seed for the second time in the last three years. They will begin postseason play when they host the winner of Akron and Ohio State.
The Tigers, who tied the ACC Championship final in the 90th minute and won in double overtime to claim their first league title since 2001, will host the winner of FGCU and Coastal Carolina. Clemson is riding a nine-match unbeaten streak dating back to Oct. 7, and is tied for sixth in the country with 46 NCAA Tournament wins in program history.
The Orange earned the first seed in program history and will host a tournament game for the first time when they face the Penn State and Hartwick winner. Syracuse earned a No. 1 national ranking for the first time in team history this year, and will be making its third tournament appearance.
The Cardinals, who advanced to the ACC Championship final in their first year in the league, are making their eighth-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. They will face the winner of Tulsa and Saint Louis.
Having earned their 34th consecutive postseason bid, the longest active streak in the nation, the Cavaliers will host the winner of UNC-Wilmington and Bucknell on Nov. 23.
The Tar Heels will begin tournament play against James Madison in the first round at home, with the winner advancing to face No. 10 Charlotte. North Carolina is making its 22nd appearance and 15th in the last 16 years.
Wake Forest will host UMBC in the first round, with the winner traveling to play No. 4 Maryland. The Demon Deacons have earned a tournament bid in 14 of the last 16 seasons.
The first round will be played on Thursday, Nov. 20, followed by the second round on Sunday, Nov. 23. The third round will be on Nov. 30, and the quarterfinals will be played on Dec. 5 or 6.
The 2014 NCAA Men’s College Cup will be played at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, on Dec. 13 and 15. For the complete bracket, visit: http://theacc.co/1xf3i3H.