COLORADO SPRINGS - The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's soccer team's first foray into the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference playoffs since 2003 will begin on Tuesday with a match against the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers in Golden at 2:30 p.m.

With a record of 9-8-1 overall and 7-6-1 in RMAC matches, the Mountain Lions enter the tournament at the fifth seed. Mines is the fourth seed with an 8-5-1 RMAC record (10-6-1 overall). The winner will advance to the finals where it they face either top seed Fort Lewis or No. 2 seed Regis. Either way, the match will be in Durango, Colo.

Tuesday's other quarterfinal will have No. 6 seed Colorado State-Pueblo travelling to Denver to face No. 3 seed Metro State at 2:30m p.m.

The RMAC has been one of the toughest conferences in the nation for men's soccer in 2011. Each of the top four seed has been nationally ranked for much of the season. The most recent poll, released on Oct. 25, has Fort Lewis at No. 3, Metro State at No. 18. Regis at No. 22 and Colorado Mines as "also receiving votes."

UCCS, which is ranked fifth in the NCAA's Central region, will need to advance deep - or even win - the conference tournament in order to advance to the NCAA tournament. Only two teams from the Central region will move on to the national tournament.

Ticket prices for Tuesday's playoff matches will be $10 for adults, $5 for students with ID.