Men's Soccer to Take on Rowan in NCAA Tournament First Round

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University men's soccer team is heading to Connecticut for its eighth appearance in the NCAA Division III tournament.

The Bears (13-5-1) will play Rowan University (15-3-4) of Glassboro, N.Y., in Middletown, Conn., on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Host Wesleyan University (9-4-4) will play Lehman College (10-2-4) earlier in the day with the winners meeting on Sunday.

BSU earned its second trip to the NCAAs in three years with a 1-0 win over the Massachusetts Maritime Academy on Sunday afternoon.

During the NCAA Selection Show on Monday morning, the Bears were the 64th and final team revealed as the players and coach Brendan Adams gathered at the Tinsley Center to watch.

The Bears, who also won the regular-season title, lost to Tufts University in their last appearance in the NCAAs in 2023.

BSU has also played in the national tournament in 1990, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 and 2018.

Rowan went 5-2-2 during the regular season in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, then won its second straight conference tourney title.

The Profs are in the NCAAs for the 32nd time in school history and won national championships in 1981 and 1990. They have played in six semifinal rounds and four championship games.

A year ago, Rowan lost in the first round to Vassar, 3-0, in a game played at Middlebury in Vermont.

Rowan is receiving votes in the most recent United Soccer Coaches Division III poll.

The Profs are led by Johnny Traiano (Hazlet, N.J.), who has 17 of the team's 43 goals in 19 games.

Wesleyan, the host team, is ranked No. 11 in the nation.

BSU is one of eight teams from Massachusetts who are in the NCAAs, joining Tufts, Brandeis, Babson, UMass Boston, Williams, Wheaton and Amherst.

Other New England teams are Connecticut College, Saint Joseph's of Connecticut, Bowdoin, Roger Williams, Middlebury and Wesleyan.

2025 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament Bracket (PDF)