Men’s Soccer Championship Moves to WakeMed Soccer Park

Cary, N.C to Host 2012, 2014 Tournaments

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference, the Town of Cary, the Capital Area Soccer League and the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau have reached an agreement to host the 2012 and 2014 SoCon Men’s Soccer championships at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.

The facility, which opened in 2002 and has hosted numerous collegiate soccer tournaments, five NCAA Women’s College Cups, three NCAA Men’s College Cups, and international friendlies, boasts a FIFA international regulation size field and a permanent seating capacity of 10,000.

Furman, which was originally slated to host the 2012 championship, will now be the site of the 2013 tournament while UNCG will host the 2015 event.

The 2012 tournament will begin with four quarterfinal round matches on Saturday, November 3 and Sunday, November 4 on the campuses of the four highest seeds. The quarterfinal winners will then advance to the semifinals at WakeMed Soccer Park on Thursday, November 8 with matches scheduled for 5 and 7:30 p.m.

The championship match will be contested on Saturday, November 10 at 7 p.m. with a live broadcast on ESPN3.

Elon is the defending tournament champion after claiming its first-ever title in 2011 by upsetting regular season champion UNCG, 3-2, in Boone, N.C. The Phoenix was joined in the NCAA Tournament by nationally-ranked Furman.

The eight Southern Conference institutions fielding men’s soccer programs are Appalachian State University, College of Charleston, Davidson College, Elon University, Furman University, Georgia Southern University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Wofford College.

SoCon Men’s Soccer Championship Host Sites

2012 – WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.

2013 – Stone Soccer Stadium, Furman; Greenville, S.C.

2014 – WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.

2015 – UNCG Soccer Stadium, UNCG; Greensboro, N.C.

-www.SoConSports.com-