ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- In a somewhat surprising turn of events Sunday, Nazareth's men's lacrosse team was awarded a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Even more surprising, perhaps, is that the Golden Flyers will host a first-round game.
The Golden Flyers, who lost to RIT 24-10 in Sunday's Empire 8 Conference title game, will bring an 11-6 overall record into Wednesday's first-round matchup with Liberty League champion Union (12-4) at Golden Flyer Stadium. Game time will be determined Monday.
"I told the kids after Sunday's game that we weren't going to collect their equipment because I thought we still had a shot," said Nazareth Coach Rob Randall. "I'm not sure they believed me."
Nazareth received one of six Pool C bids in the 26-team field. Pool C bids are awarded to at-large teams that don't gain an automatic berth by winning a conference tournament. RIT gained the automatic berth in the E8 and Stevens (15-2 overall) also gained a Pool C berth.
"First time ever that the Empire 8 has gotten a Pool C bid and we got two," Randall said.
The Golden Flyers will be making their 19th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. They won titles in 1992, 1996 and 1997 and reached the championship game in 1995, 1998 and 2004.
Wednesday's game will mark the third meeting between Nazareth and Union in men's lacrosse. The Golden Flyers won the two previous meetings, most recently a 15-5 triumph in the first round of the ECAC Tournament in 2008. The winner of Wednesday's game will travel to Tufts Saturday to play the defending champion Jumbos.