The field of 48 teams in the 2014 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship was announced on Monday and six schools in the competition feature Sporting KC Academy alums. Held annually since 1959, the tournament will kick off this Thursday in a single-elimination format.
Eric DeJulio (Creighton) - The junior defender has started every match for the Bluejays (14-3-2) in 2014. Creighton, ranked No. 5 in the nation, receives a bye into the second round of the NCAA tournament and will await the winner between Oregon State and Denver in their 22nd NCAA tournament appearance.
Raymond Lee (Saint Louis) - The senior midfielder has two goals and four assists while appearing in every match for the No. 10 ranked Billikens (13-4-2) this season. Saint Louis is making their 48th NCAA tournament appearance and have won 10 national championships in school history; both are NCAA records. SLU will take on Tulsa in the opening round.
Andy Lopez and Zach Wright (North Carolina) - Wright, a forward, and Lopez, a midfielder, are both in their freshman seasons for the No. 17 ranked Tar Heels (12-5-1). Wright (pictured above) has one goal and four assists in 15 appearances. UNC, two-time NCAA champions and making their 22nd appearance in the postseason, will play James Madison University in the first round.
Heath Honold (Wake Forest) - The forward has made five appearances in his freshman campaign. Wake Forest (10-7-1) -- who reached the third round of the tournament in 2013 before falling to eventual champions Notre Dame -- are paired with UMBC in the first round. Wake Forest were national champions in 2007 and are making their 18th NCAA tournament appearance.
Cole Stevenson (Denver) - The freshman forward has one goal and two assists in 18 games played for the Pioneers, who won the Summit League and finished 11-7-1. Their fifth NCAA tournament appearance begins against Oregon State.
Matt Lewis (Fordham) - The freshman defender has one assist in 19 games played for the Rams, who were the Atlantic 10 champions to earn the school's second NCAA tournament berth. Fordham (7-8-4) will face Dartmouth to kick off their postseason run.
All first-round games will be played Nov. 20, while all second-round action will take place Nov. 23. The third round will be played Nov. 30, while the quarterfinals will be played Dec. 5 or 6. The Men’s College Cup will be held Dec. 12 and 14 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.
Visit NCAA.com to see the full bracket and for updates throughout the tournament.
