Men's Soccer

No. 1 Kentucky and Marshall to Represent Sun Belt Conference in the 2022 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament

NEW ORLEANS – Kentucky and Marshall are set to represent the Sun Belt Conference in the 2022 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament, announced in the selection show on Monday. 
 
Kentucky (14-0-5) was named the 2022 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament’s top overall seed, the highest in program and Sun Belt history, while Marshall (10-3-3) earned an at-large bid. 
 
The Wildcats completed its perfect season on Sunday, defeating James Madison, 2-0, to claim the Sun Belt Conference Men’s Soccer Tournament Championship. Kentucky, also the Sun Belt Men’s Soccer Regular Season Champion, enters the tournament as the only undefeated program nationally, surpassing Washington to claim the top-overall seed. 
 
Kentucky is set to open NCAA Tournament play on Sunday, Nov. 20, earning a first-round bye before hosting South Florida (8-6-4) or Hofstra (14-3-3) at the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex. The match will be broadcast on ESPN networks.  
 
Kentucky is set to make its 13th NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament appearance and ninth under Sun Belt Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year Johan Cedergren. The Wildcats made their furthest tournament run in 2018 with a bout in the Elite 8 before falling to Maryland. 
 
Marshall will look for redemption after bowing out of the first round of the Sun Belt Men’s Soccer Tournament to James Madison, 1-0. The Herd finished the regular season ranked in the Top 10 of the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 at No. 5. Marshall ranked in the Top 10 for the final nine weeks of regular season and ascended as high as No. 3. 
 
The Herd will travel to face Elon (11-4-3) on Thursday, Nov. 17. The Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) top-seeded team fell to Hofstra in the tournament championship, 2-1. The Phoenix currently rank second in the Atlantic Region and 24th overall in the most recent RPI rankings. As a team, Elon is third overall in the NCAA in shutout percentage (.647) and GAA (0.53). 
 
Marshall will make its fourth-straight appearance in the NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament. Most notably, the Herd went on its historic run of 5-0 in 2020-21 to capture the National Championship. Marshall topped the likes of Fordham, Clemson, Georgetown, and UNC enroute to hoisting the College Cup.