MEN'S SOCCER WILL HOST SANTA CLARA IN FIRST ROUND OF 2010 NCAA MEN'S COLLEGE CUP

11/15/2010

The Hornets will battle Santa Clara at 2 p.m. on Thursday in the first-round of the NCAA Tourney.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Sacramento State men's soccer team has drawn Santa Clara in the first round of the NCAA Men's College Cup and will host the game at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18, at Hornet Soccer Field.

This is the first time a Sacramento State team sport has earned an NCAA Tournament home game since softball hosted a regional in 1995.

The Hornets have an unprecedented 20-match unbeaten streak at home dating back to 2008. In those games, Sacramento State has posted a record of 15-0-5.

The winner will advance to a matchup with UCLA in the second round. The Bruins earned a first-round bye in the 48-team tournament after posting a 14-4-1 mark this season.

The Hornets (10-4-7) defeated Cal State Bakersfield, 2-1, in overtime of the championship match of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament on Sunday afternoon to earn their automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

The Broncos (10-5-5) defeated Gonzaga, 2-0, to win the West Coast Conference Tournament title and capture their league's automatic bid.

Sacramento State and Santa Clara met up in the regular season on Sept. 26 with the teams playing to a 1-1 draw. Rory O'Day, who scored the game-winning goal in overtime against CSUB in the MPSF tournament title, had the Hornet goal against Santa Clara. Keigo Kameya scored for the Broncos.

The MPSF had three teams earn spots in the tournament, as Denver meets UC Santa Barbara and New Mexico plays Creighton in the first round.

Tickets will cost $12 for adults and $5 for children over two-years-old to 18-years-old and Sacramento State and Santa Clara students with school ID. Children under-2 are free. Tickets will be available at the gate one-hour prior to kick-off. For tickets in advance, call (916) 278-2222. Tickets also available online NOW at www.hornetsports.com (convenience & handling fees apply).