What: 2010 Virginia 529 College Savings Plan CAA Men’s Soccer Championship
When: Nov. 12 and 14
Where: Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field in Williamsburg, Va
First round matches:
No. 2 VCU vs. No. 3 Hofstra, 5 p.m.
No. 1 William & Mary vs. No. 4 Delaware, 7:30 p.m.
Tournament notes:
-All of this year’s participants were picked to finish outside of the top four in the preseason coaches poll. VCU was picked to finish tied for seventh along with its opponent this weekend, Hofstra. This year’s regular season’s champion, William & Mary, was picked to finish fifth and and fourth-seeded Delaware was picked to finish 10th.
Tournament history:
-Seven different teams have won the CAA’s postseason tournament since the turn of the millennium.
-VCU hasn’t won the title since they won back-to-back titles under former head coach Tim O’Sullivan in 2002 and 2003.
-The Rams’ appearance will be their first in the tournament since 2007.
-For the first time in the CAA’s 26-year history, every team recorded at least three conference victories, resulting in ten of the conference’s 12 teams vying for a spot in the CAA Tournament.
VCU Notes:
-Head coach Dave Giffard makes the CAA Tournament at his first time of asking, less than 11 months after he was hired.
-The Rams picked up eight victories overall this season, more than the past two seasons combined.
-The Rams finished the season with eight clean sheets; good enough for third in the conference in goals allowed and tied for third in shutouts.
VCU vs. Hofstra matchup:
-The two teams battled to a 1-1 draw after exchanging goals in the 30th and 32nd minutes but not finding the back of the net after that. At the time, the team played to it’s sixth overtime draw of the season and reached 10 games unbeaten. Freshman forward Jason Johnson scored the goal, one of his four goals on the year.