Monday, November 7, 2016

INDIANAPOLIS – With the GNAC title under its belt, Simon Fraser is set to make a playoff run as the No. 1 seed in the West Region, while Western Washington’s late-season surge helped the Vikings also earn a playoff spot at the No. 6 seed.

Simon Fraser will host its half of the bracket at Seattle Pacific’s Interbay Stadium in Seattle, Wash. It is the second time that Simon Fraser has hosted part of the men’s soccer West Regional Tournament. As the only Canadian school in the NCAA, Simon Fraser must host the NCAA event in the United States.

Simon Fraser will get a first-round bye. In the second round, the Clan will face the winner of No. 4 Sonoma State and No. 5 Cal Poly Pomona, which will meet on Thursday at 1 p.m. (Pacific) also at Interbay Stadium. Simon Fraser will play the winner at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The Clan defeated Cal Poly Pomona on the road 2-0 in the second match of the season.

The Clan coincidentally wrapped up its regular season at Interbay Stadium with a 4-2 victory against Seattle Pacific. It was Simon Fraser’s first win on Seattle Pacific’s home field since 2012.

As the No. 6 seed, Western Washington will travel to La Jolla, Calif., where No. 2 UC San Diego hosts the bottom half of the West Region bracket. The Vikings will play No. 3 Dixie State in the first round on Friday at noon. The winner will play UC San Diego at noon on Sunday.

It is the fourth time in the last five years that the GNAC has had two representatives in the West Regional Championships. The highest remaining seed in the West Region after two rounds will host the West Region and South Central Region championship matches and the quarterfinal match between the two regions’ champions.