First Round delivers upsets, penalty shootout drama as field narrows to 16
The NCAA Men's Soccer Championship burst into life Wednesday with a First Round that lived up to its billing, serving up penalty shootout heartbreak, double-overtime drama, and a handful of upsets that reshaped the tournament bracket.
Western Michigan delivered the day's biggest statement, stunning No. 16 seed Clemson 1-0 at Historic Riggs Field. The Broncos' defensive discipline frustrated the Tigers throughout, setting up a challenging Second Round date with No. 16 Furman on Sunday.
Grand Canyon matched that upset quotient, eliminating UCLA in a tense penalty shootout after 110 scoreless minutes. The Antelopes prevailed 4-3 in the shootout, earning a cross-country trip to face No. 9 San Diego in the tournament's westernmost Second Round matchup.
Hofstra made the journey from Long Island worthwhile, silencing the Carrier Dome crowd with a commanding 2-0 victory over Syracuse. The Pride advance to face top-seeded Vermont, setting up one of Sunday's most intriguing David-versus-Goliath encounters.
Double overtime proved necessary in multiple venues. Saint Louis survived a Kentucky scare in Lexington, finally breaking through in the second extra period for a 2-1 victory that books a trip to No. 6 Indiana. Washington matched that drama against Oregon State, prevailing 3-2 in 2OT to secure a clash with No. 5 SMU.
Penalty kicks decided three contests, with varying degrees of drama. North Carolina escaped a North Florida upset bid after a 2-2 deadlock, edging the Ospreys 6-5 in the shootout. The Tar Heels' reward? A short trip to No. 4 Maryland for what promises to be an ACC battle royal.
UNC Greensboro blanked Elon through regulation and overtime before converting four of five penalties to advance 4-2 in the shootout. The Spartans travel to No. 2 Virginia, while Seton Hall survived their own shootout thriller against Siena (4-3 on PKs) to face No. 11 Bryant.
The day wasn't without its blowouts. Cornell demolished Lafayette 4-0 to earn a date with No. 13 UConn, while Duke, Notre Dame, UCF, Marshall, Kansas City, and Denver all secured clean-sheet victories to advance.
West Virginia provided the lone regulation overtime drama beyond the 2OT thrillers, downing St. John's 4-3 in a high-scoring affair that required an extra period to settle. The Mountaineers head to No. 10 High Point for Sunday's action.
Sunday's Second Round kicks off at noon Eastern with Indiana hosting Saint Louis, part of a marathon 16-match day that concludes with Portland and Denver battling at 9 p.m. All matches stream on ESPN+, with home sites hosting throughout.
The tournament's opening salvo delivered precisely what college soccer fans crave: unpredictability, drama, and enough upsets to ensure no top seed can feel comfortable heading into the weekend. Sunday promises more of the same as 32 teams become 16.