Seven Carolinas teams make NCAA men’s soccer tournament. Here is the bracket, schedule

Langston Wertz Jr.
·3 min read

The entirety of this year’s NCAA men’s soccer tournament will be played in North Carolina, and seven Carolinas teams will chase the trophy.

COVID-19 pushed the 2020 tournament to the spring, and Monday, the NCAA announced pairings for its national championship tournament.

Last week, the NCAA Division I oversight committee approved a proposal to have all 36 men’s teams to play the entire tournament in North Carolina. The women’s tournament will also be played in the state.

Both will conclude with national championship games May 17 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.

Only 36 men’s teams made the 2021 field, down from the usual 48. Eight teams will play in the first round April 29. (Click here for full bracket).

Here are the pairings for Carolinas teams:

▪ The top overall seed is Clemson (13-3-2), the two-time national champions who are in the tournament for the 33rd time. Clemson will play the winner of Jacksonville and American.

▪ High Point (12-1) will play No. 8 Georgetown in a second-round game.

▪ Wake Forest (11-2-2) is a No. 5 seed and will play Coastal Carolina (9-4-2), which won a bid last fall.

▪ North Carolina, which missed the 2019 field, earned an at-large berth. The Tar Heels (7-4-3), two-time national champions (2001, 2011) will play the Charlotte 49ers (6-3-1). The 49ers are in the tournament for the ninth time in 10 seasons.

Charlotte, Wake Forest and UNC were among 14 schools receiving at-large bids.

▪ Southern Conference champion UNC Greensboro (9-2-2) has a first-round game with Denver (6-2-2).

Games will played at Campbell, East Carolina, UNC-Wilmington, UNC-Greensboro and Wake Forest. Off-campus sites for tournament matches include Bryan Park in Greensboro, J. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex in Wilson, the Matthews SportsPlex and WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.

The maximum allowable capacity for fans at games is 25%.

▪ Tournament dates: April 27-28 (women’s first round); April 29 (men’s first round); April 30-May 1 (women’s second round); May 2 (men’s second round); May 5 (women’s third round); May 6 (men’s third round); May 9 (women’s quarterfinals); May 10 (men’s quarterfinals); May 13 (women’s semifinals); May 14 (men’s semifinals).

NCAA men’s soccer tournament games and schedule

First round, April 29

  • Jacksonville vs. American, 6 p.m., at Wake Forest in Winston-Salem

  • Denver vs. UNC Greensboro, 6 p.m., at UNC Greensboro

  • Milwaukee vs. St. Francis, 6 p.m., at UNC Wilmington

  • Bowling Green vs. Monmouth, 6 p.m., at Bryan Park in Greensboro

Second round, May 2

  • Kentucky vs. New Hampshire, noon, at Bryan Park in Greensboro

  • High Point vs. George Town, noon, at Matthews Sportsplex

  • Fordham vs. Marshall, 1 p.m., in Wilson

  • Maryland vs. Missouri State, 1 p.m., at UNC Wilmington

  • Penn State vs. UMass, 1 p.m., at UNC Greensboro

  • Wake Forest vs. Coastal Carolina, 1 p.m., at Winston-Salem

  • Marquette vs. LMU, 1 p.m., at WakeMed Field in Cary

  • Oregon State vs. Virginia Tech, 4 p.m., at Bryan Park in Greensboro

  • Washington vs. Grand Canyon, 4 p.m., at Matthews Sportsplex

  • UNC vs. Charlotte, 5 p.m., at WakeMed Field in Cary

  • Stanford vs. UNCG/Denver, 5 p.m. at UNC Greensboro

  • Clemson vs. Jacksonville/American, 5 p.m., at Wake Forest

  • Indiana vs. Milwaukee/St. Francis Brooklyn, 5 p.m., at UNC Wilmington

  • Central Florida vs. James Madison, 5 p.m., in Wilson

  • Air Force vs. Seton Hall, 8 p.m., at Matthews Sportsplex

  • Pittsburgh vs. Bowling Green/Monmouth, 8 p.m., at Bryan Park in Greensboro

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Should Canada's rattiest cities worry about leptospirosis? Symptoms to know after New York reports rising cases

    While the disease is rare in Canada, here are the symptoms and risks you should know about.

  • Allstate, IBD Stock Of The Day, Rides Higher Insurance Rates, Better Luck Into Buy Zone

    Allstate is IBD Stock Of The Day as insurers rise thanks to premium increases and higher interest income.

  • NYPD gives details about man who set self on fire outside courthouse where Trump trial is held

    Members of the New York City Police Department held a press conference Friday afternoon shortly after a man set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former President Donald Trump is on trial.

  • Justin Pippen, Scottie Pippen's youngest son, commits to Michigan

    Justin Pippen, the youngest son of NBA legend Scottie Pippen, announced he will be playing college basketball next season at Michigan.

  • US STOCKS-Nasdaq, S&P tumble as Netflix, chip stocks drag; AmEx boosts Dow

    The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 ended lower on Friday as Netflix shares weighed, but American Express kept the Dow afloat after quarterly earnings from both companies, while growing pessimism that the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates soon also dented sentiment. Netflix slumped as one of the bigger drags on the benchmark S&P index and Nasdaq after the video streaming company's second-quarter revenue view fell short of analysts' expectations while the company also unexpectedly said it would no longer provide subscriber counts.

  • Venue opens doors again more than a year after fatal crush

    The O2 Brixton Academy had heavy security for the reopening.

  • This sale is money: An identity-protecting travel wallet for $10 — could 53,000+ shoppers be wrong?

    'No unexpected coin avalanche': The slim, secure bifold easily keeps all your essentials organized, fans say.

  • Bank of Mexico deputy governor sees rates on hold for longer than expected

    Bank of Mexico Deputy Governor Jonathan Heath said on Friday the benchmark interest rate is likely to remain unchanged for longer than expected by markets, noting it would likely stay put at 11% at the May policy meeting and that the June decision would be data dependent. Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings, Heath underscored the importance of waiting until service sector inflation demonstrates a clear downward trajectory, suggesting the possibility of two to four rate cuts this year depending on evolving economic conditions. "Either we meet our inflation target and maybe we could cut, or we don't meet our inflation target and we don't cut," Heath said.

  • Royal couple announce shock divorce - details

    Prince Nikolaos and Princess Tatiana of Greece have confirmed that they are to divorce after 14 years of marriage

  • Watch Avs mascot Bernie crash the Denver7 weather and traffic report!

    Colorado Avalanche mascot Bernie made a cameo appearance during the weather and traffic report on Denver7 News at 6 a.m. Thursday ahead of the Avs' playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets.

  • We meet again: Hurricanes and Islanders reunite to open NHL playoffs for 2nd straight year

    RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Islanders are getting another postseason reunion. The teams are meeting in the first round of the NHL playoffs for the second straight season, and this marks the third time the teams will meet in six postseasons. The Hurricanes won both previous matchups, including a six-game series in last year's first round. The Hurricanes are the favorite to win the Stanley Cup, according to Bet MGM Sportsbook, as they enter Saturday's Game 1 at ho

  • Paris Hilton Introduces Daughter London in First Official Photos as Family of Four (Exclusive)

    The mom of two is releasing her song "FAME WON'T LOVE YOU" in collaboration with Sia, just in time for Mother's Day

  • Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula explores selling non-controlling, minority stake in franchise

    ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula are exploring the possibility of selling a non-controlling, minority interest in the franchise, the team announced on Friday. A person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press the stake in the team the Pegulas would be preparing to sell would be about 25%. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because that detail was not announced by the team. It was first reported by The Athletic. The Bills announced the Pe

  • Police to review security outside courthouse hosting Trump's trial after man sets himself on fire

    NEW YORK (AP) — Police officials said they were reviewing whether to restrict access to a public park outside the courthouse where former President Donald Trump is on trial after a man set himself on fire there Friday. “We may have to shut this area down,” New York City Police Department Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry said at a news conference outside the courthouse, adding that officials would discuss the security plan soon. Collect Pond Park has been a gathering spot for protesters, journali

  • As inflation cools, Macklem says different countries will cut rates at own pace

    OTTAWA — Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says central banks will make monetary policy decisions geared toward their own economies, which means some countries may begin cutting interest rates before others. Macklem made the comments while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of International Monetary Fund meetings in Washington, D.C. Friday. "We've all been resolute in our commitment to restore price stability, and we've matched those words with action that has helped us all bring inflatio

  • Whitecaps look to bounce back against Sounders in Cascadia clash

    VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps aren't dwelling on their fall from the top spot in Major League Soccer's Western Conference. After all, there's a lot of soccer still to be played. The Whitecaps (4-2-1) dropped a 3-1 decision to the L.A. Galaxy last Saturday and sit in second spot on the West heading into a rivalry matchup with the Sounders (1-3-3) in Seattle this weekend. Moving back up the standings requires moving forward on the field, said Vancouver striker Brian White. “It’s about turnin

  • CANADA STOCKS-TSX pares weekly decline as interest rate sensitive shares gain

    Canada's main stock index edged higher on Friday as energy and interest rate sensitive shares notched gains, with the index outperforming Wall Street and clawing back some of its weekly decline. The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index ended up 98.93 points, or 0.5%, at 21,807.37, its third straight day of gains. The Nasdaq and the S&P 500, two major U.S. benchmark indexes, fell after mixed corporate earnings and amid growing pessimism that the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates soon.

  • Leafs, Jets, Oilers and Canucks carry Canada's Cup hopes with drought at 30 years

    Josh Morrissey remembers the city coming to life before his eyes. A nine-year-old Flames fan in the spring of 2004, he was captivated by every Jarome Iginla chance and Miikka Kiprusoff save during Calgary's run to the Stanley Cup final. "It was just an awesome experience," said Morrissey, now a star defenceman for the Winnipeg Jets. "Living and dying on every win and loss." Hockey fans across Canada are once again preparing themselves to experience that annual thrill and torment. The Jets, Vanco

  • Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial identified as ‘researcher’ who posted conspiracy-laden manifesto moments earlier

    The NYPD identified the man as Maxwell Azzarello, 37, who is now in critical condition in Cornell burns unit. He has a long history of posting conspiracy theories and railing against the rich and powerful

  • Trump’s criminal hush-money trial concludes jury selection after difficulties

    With the panel selected, Donald Trump’s trial can enter its next stage, with opening arguments expected on Monday