>>11.08.04
Comets To Face Top-Ranked Trinity
In Opening Round of NCAA Tournament
UTD Gets Playoff Rematch With Tigers Saturday

SAN ANTONIO, TX - The University of Texas at Dallas men's soccer team, which won its first American Southwest Conference championship on Sunday, has earned a bittersweet prize for its efforts - a rematch with No. 1-ranked Trinity University in the opening round of the NCAA Division III national playoffs.

The Comets (15-4-2) of Coach Jack Peel (pictured) and Tigers are scheduled to meet Saturday, Nov. 13 in San Antonio at 6 pm at the Blossom Athletic Complex for the right to advance to the "Sweet 16" of the national playoffs. Trinity's women's team is also scheduled to host a playoff game that day and will play at 1 pm.

Trinity is ranked first in the NSCAA national poll after finishing off an 18-0-0 season. Unfortunately for the Comets, UTD was one of the teams that contributed to that total with an embarrassing 10-1 defeat back on Sept. 11. In that game, UTD played close in the first half, tying the score and then trailed just 2-1 at intermission. But Trinity opened the second half with a three-goal outburst in the first five minutes to break the game open. The Comets then gave up another three-goal run late in the game and things got quickly out of control. Trinity outshot the Comets, 24-9 in the game.

Fortunes have improved dramatically for UTD since then, however. After struggling to a 3-4 start out of the gate, the Comets have not lost a game since Sept. 21 and have 12 wins and 2 ties in their last 14 games, including a run through the ASC schedule without a loss. UTD defeated McMurry University, 2-1, in the conference tournament championship game on Saturday to earn the NCAA berth.

NCAA Division III National Bracket (PDF format)

DIRECTIONS TO BLOSSOM ATHLETIC COMPLEX: Blossom Athletic Complex is located in the north-central portion of San Antonio. Exit O'Connor Road off I-35S, and travel east on O'Connor for approx. 2 miles. Follow signs to Wurzbach Parkway (a mini-freeway). Wurzbach becomes a divided road called Starcrest Road. (O'Connor, Wurzbach and Starcrest are essentially the same road). Blossom Activity Center will be located on the left near Jones Maltsberger Road.

BLOSSOM ACTIVITY CENTER
12002 JONES MALTSBERGER ROAD
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS