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MSOC NCAA First-Second Round Preview

PREVIEW | No. 7 Seed Men’s Soccer Opens NCAA Tournament Action in Wichita Falls

11/11/2026 9:00:00 AM

By: Tyler Tvelia, Sports Information Director
THIS WEEK'S MATCHUP
  • Holding a 10-3-6 overall record, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's soccer team secured the No. 7 seed in Super Region 4 and will take on No. 10 seed Westmont College in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (MT) on Friday, Nov. 13 at Stang Park in Wichita Falls, Texas.
  • The winner of Friday's matchup between the Mountain Lions and Warriors will advance to face No. 2 seed and host institution Midwestern State University in the second round at 2 p.m. (MT) on Sunday, Nov. 15 at Stang Park.
GAME COVERAGE TICKETS
  • All fans will be charged admission, and tickets will be available online only. Online ticket sales will close at 5 p.m. (CT).
  • Ticket Prices:
    • General Admission - Adult: $16
    • General Admission - Student/Senior Citizen/Military: $11
2026 SEASON IN REVIEW
  • The Mountain Lions opened the 2026 campaign with a pair of shutout victories over Sul Ross State University (8-0) and St. Mary's University (3-0) before battling then-No. 1 nationally ranked Midwestern State to a 1-1 draw in their home opener. UCCS remained unbeaten throughout its eight-game non-conference schedule, posting a 5-0-3 record that included a 2-1 road victory over then-No. 17 Regis University.
  • UCCS endured a challenging start to conference play as they dropped their first game of the season at Colorado Mesa University and followed with draws against Westminster University and South Dakota Mines. The Mountain Lions quickly got back on track with four consecutive victories, including home wins over then-No. 24 Regis and then-No. 14 Fort Lewis College. Following a setback at Metropolitan State University Denver on Oct. 18, UCCS closed the regular season with a 4-1 victory over Colorado School of Mines and a scoreless draw against No. 2 nationally ranked Colorado State University Pueblo. The Mountain Lions finished with a 10-2-6 regular season record and a 5-2-3 conference mark, collecting 18 points to secure the No. 4 seed in the RMAC Tournament.
  • The Mountain Lions went on to suffer a 4-1 defeat against Westminster in the quarterfinal round of the RMAC Tournament, but earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament on the strength of their regular season performance. UCCS secured the No. 7 seed in Super Region 4, marking the program's fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
NCAA TOURNAMENT BRACKET
  • New for the 2026 season, the NCAA Power Index (NPI) serves as the primary selection tool for determining the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament field. The formula considers wins, strength of schedule, quality wins and match location, including home, away and neutral-site results.
  • The Mountain Lions enter the NCAA postseason holding the No. 7 ranking in Super Region 4 and the No. 19 mark nationally with 56.934 NPI points in the final rankings that were unveiled after the NCAA selection show on Monday evening. Super Region 4 includes programs from the RMAC, Lone Star Conference, California Collegiate Athletic Association, PacWest Conference and Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
  • The 2026 NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament features a 40-team field divided into four super regions of 10 teams each. The top six seeds in each super region receive first-round byes. The full bracket for the 2026 NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament can be found HERE.
  • In Super Region 4, No. 7 seed UCCS will face No. 10 seed Westmont, while No. 8 seed Western Oregon University will take on No. 9 seed Fort Lewis in the first round. The UCCS-Westmont winner will advance to face No. 2 seed Midwestern State, while the Western Oregon-Fort Lewis winner will meet No. 1 seed California State University Los Angeles. The remaining second-round matchups in Super Region 4 will feature No. 3 seed CSU Pueblo hosting No. 6 seed California State University San Bernardino and No. 4 seed Seattle Pacific University hosting No. 5 seed Regis.
UNITED SOCCER COACHES NATIONAL RANKINGS
  • The Mountain Lions opened the 2026 season ranked No. 18 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason National Poll and remained inside the top 25 throughout the entire season, climbing as high as No. 2 on Sept. 22. UCCS landed at No. 19 in the most recent publication of the national poll, released on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
  • Westmont received votes in the Week 11 United Soccer Coaches National Poll, while Midwestern State climbed one spot for a No. 3 national ranking. The Mustangs opened the season as the top-ranked team in the preseason poll after winning the 2025 national championship and have not been ranked lower than sixth in any of this season's national rankings releases.
2026 United Soccer Coaches Rankings
Preseason           Aug. 4               #18
Week 1                Sept. 1              #12
Week 2                Sept. 8              #4
Week 3                Sept. 15            #3
Week 4                Sept. 22            #2
Week 5                Sept. 29            #14
Week 6                Oct. 6                #23
Week 7                Oct. 13              #16
Week 8                Oct. 20              #23
Week 9                Oct. 27              #23
Week 10              Nov. 3                #20
Week 11              Nov. 10              #19
 
RMAC AWARDS
  • The UCCS men's soccer program had four student-athletes combine for six weekly conference awards throughout the 2026 campaign.
    • Week 2 (Sept. 8): Yohann Fila – RMAC Offensive Player of the Week
    • Week 2 (Sept. 8): Hugo Sjöberg – RMAC Goalkeeper of the Week
    • Week 3 (Sept. 15): Dillon Clarke – RMAC Defensive Player of the Week
    • Week 4 (Sept. 22): Lucas Taitt – RMAC Defensive Player of the Week
    • Week 9 (Oct. 29): Lucas Taitt – RMAC Defensive Player of the Week
    • Week 9 (Oct. 29): Hugo Sjöberg – RMAC Goalkeeper of the Week
  • Six Mountain Lions earned recognition on the 2026 All-RMAC Teams that were announced on Thursday, Nov. 5 as forward Yohann Fila and defender Lucas Taitt collected First Team honors, while forward Cole Wearner and goalkeeper Hugo Sjöberg garnered Second Team accolades. Midfielder Dalton Uehling and forward Eduardo Macias rounded out the group with Honorable Mention recognition.
  • The conference will announce the RMAC All-Academic Teams at noon on Friday, Nov. 13.
STATISTICAL LEADERS
  • The Mountain Lions enter the NCAA Tournament with the third-ranked defense in the RMAC, surrendering 1.16 goals per game while limiting opponents to 11.8 total shots and 5.1 shots on goal per contest. UCCS also ranks second in the conference with a .773 team save percentage.
  • Maddox Brown led all UCCS field players with 1,629 minutes played and has started all 19 matches this season on the defensive side of the ball. Gustavo Diaz Avila (1,467 minutes) and Olly Reynolds (1,277 minutes) also logged significant time along the Mountain Lions' back line, while Dalton Uehling spent 1,453 minutes on the pitch as a standout defensive midfielder for UCCS.
  • Hugo Sjöberg has made 18 starts between the sticks for UCCS, posting a 1.10 GAA with 68 saves across more than 1,550 minutes of action. Sjöberg leads the RMAC with a .782 save percentage while sitting second in the league in saves and clean sheets and third in the conference in GAA.
  • Offensively, UCCS ranks fifth in the conference in scoring with 38 goals in 19 games for an average of 2.00 goals per game. The Mountain Lions rank second in the RMAC and sixth nationally in both total shots per game (17.58) and corner kicks per game (6.39), while sitting second in the conference and 12th nationally in shots on goal per game (7.63).
  • Yohann Fila and Lucas Taitt share the team lead with eight goals apiece, which ranks tied for seventh in the RMAC. The Mountain Lions have four players with at least 10 points on the season as Fila holds the team-lead with 19 points, followed by Taitt with 17, Cole Wearner with 15, and Eduardo Macias with 13. Wearner has contributed six goals and three assists, while E. Macias leads the team with five assists to accompany his four goals. Toby Benitez has also made an impact during his freshman season, adding three goals and three assists, while fifth year Marcus Garcia and senior Jack Cook have scored two goals apiece.
ALL-TIME SERIES
  • Friday's first-round matchup will mark the first meeting in program history between UCCS and Westmont College.
  • The Mountain Lions hold a 1-7-2 all-time record against Midwestern State, with their lone victory coming in a 2-1 home win on Sept. 12, 1999. UCCS is 0-6 against the Mustangs in Wichita Falls.
  • In their regular season matchup on Sept. 4, UCCS battled then-No. 1 nationally ranked Midwestern State to a 1-1 draw at Mountain Lion Stadium. Yohann Fila converted a penalty kick in the 36th minute before Lawrence Doe equalized for the Mustangs in the 72nd minute. Hugo Sjöberg recorded five saves to help the Mountain Lions secure the draw.
SCOUTING WESTMONT
  • Westmont enters the NCAA Tournament with a 10-7-5 overall record after earning the PacWest's automatic berth with a conference tournament championship. The Warriors defeated Vanguard University 4-2 in the semifinal round before securing a 3-2 victory over Hawaii Pacific University in the conference championship match.
  • After opening the season with a 3-6-4 record through their first 13 matches, the Warriors found their stride down the stretch, posting a 7-1-1 record across their last nine contests, including a pair of conference tournament victories. Westmont enters Friday's matchup riding a three-game winning streak during which it has outscored opponents 11-5.
  • Offensively, the Warriors rank tied for second in the PacWest with 2.00 goals per game, third in total shots per game (13.09) and fourth in shots on goal per game (5.55). Westmont also leads the conference in assists per game (1.82) and corner kicks per game (5.77), while its 40 total assists rank 13th nationally. The Warriors have spread their scoring across 17 players, including six with at least four goals.
  • Cooper Mathews leads the Warriors with six goals, while Leonel Olivo Ortiz, Cole Lomeli and Logan Race have scored five apiece. Olivo Ortiz and Julius Oehmichen share the team lead with 14 points, followed by Mathews and Lomeli with 13 each and Race and Luis Cortes with 10 points apiece. Tiago Aranibar leads the PacWest and ranks tied for 19th nationally with eight assists, while Oehmichen is tied for second in the conference with six.
  • Defensively, Barrett Goodman (1,494 minutes) and Aranibar (1,461 minutes) have been mainstays on a Westmont backline that ranks sixth in the PacWest with 1.73 goals allowed per game. The Warriors have recorded five shutouts throughout the campaign.
  • Aidan Strickler has handled the bulk of the goalkeeping duties for the Warriors, making 19 starts and posting a 1.71 GAA with 60 saves, a .652 save percentage and four clean sheets across more than 1,682 minutes of action. Strickler leads the PacWest in both total saves and shutouts.
SCOUTING MIDWESTERN STATE
  • Defending national champion Midwestern State enters their 13th consecutive NCAA Tournament berth holding a 15-0-5 overall record and a 31-match unbeaten streak dating back to last season. The Mustangs secured the No. 2 seed in Super Region 4 after capturing the Lone Star Conference regular season championship with an 8-0-2 league record and winning the LSC Tournament title for the sixth straight year, advanced past University of Texas Dallas in penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw in the LSC semifinal round before defeating St. Mary's 3-1 to claim the automatic bid.
  • The Mustangs boast one of the nation's most productive offenses, leading the LSC and ranking sixth nationally with 2.65 goals per game. Midwestern State also leads the conference in total shots per game (18.70), shots on goal per game (8.40), assists per game (2.35) and corner kicks per game (6.40), ranking second, fourth, sixth and seventh nationally in those categories, respectively.
  • Named the LSC Player of the Year and Forward of the Year, Parker Plaxco leads the conference with 17 goals and 34 points, ranking tied for fifth and ninth nationally, respectively. His seven game-winning goals are also tied for the NCAA Division II lead. Jose Ortiz has contributed eight goals and 17 points, while LSC Midfielder of the Year Alan Rivera and Lawrence Doe have scored five goals apiece. Ethan Krchnak leads the team with eight assists, followed by Oscar Nunez with seven.
  • LSC Defensive Player of the Year Ethan Krchnak and fellow All-LSC First Team defenders Skyler Krchnak and Davis Mays anchor a defensive unit that leads the conference and ranks 14th nationally with a 0.74 team GAA. The Mustangs have recorded seven shutouts while limiting opponents to 9.20 total shots and 4.00 shots on goal per game.
  • LSC Goalkeeper of the Year Jake Morris has started all 20 matches, posting a 0.77 GAA with 64 saves and six individual shutouts across more than 1,764 minutes. Morris leads the conference in GAA and save percentage (.810), ranking 22nd and 15th nationally, respectively.
HOT TAKES
  • The Mountain Lions are one of just nine programs nationally to earn a berth in each of the last four NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournaments (2023-26). UCCS joins Cal State LA and Midwestern State as the only three programs from Super Region 4 to qualify in all four seasons and is the lone RMAC program to accomplish the feat. University of Charleston, Franklin Pierce University, Gannon University, and Southern New Hampshire University from Super Region 1, Lynn University from Super Region 2, and Maryville University of St. Louis from Super Region 3 round out the group of repeat tournament teams over the past four campaigns.
  • UCCS has recorded double-digit victories in five consecutive seasons from 2022–26, compiling a combined 57-23-24 record with five straight RMAC Tournament appearances in that stretch.
  • The Mountain Lions went unbeaten in five matches against opponents ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 this season, posting a 3-0-2 record that included victories over Regis twice and Fort Lewis, along with draws against Midwestern State and CSU Pueblo.
  • The Mountain Lions have established a program record with six draws this season.
  • Through the first 19 games of the season, the Mountain Lions' offense already ranks among the best in program history in several single-season categories, sitting seventh in points (109), tied for seventh in goals (38), third in assists (33), and second in shots (334) and shots on goal (145).
  • On a per game basis, the Mountain Lions are currently averaging the most shots on goal per game in a single season in program history with 7.63/game. In addition, the team needs just two more shots on goal to surpass the program record of 146 that was established in 2022.
  • The Mountain Lions' 8-0 victory in their season-opener against Sul Ross State marked one of the most complete offensive performances in program history, with UCCS' eight goals tying for the second-most in a single game. UCCS also tied for third all-time in points (23) and shots on goal (19), tied for fourth in assists (7), and tied for sixth in total shots (34) in a single contest.
  • Lucas Taitt's three-goal performance against Colorado School of Mines on Oct. 25 marked the 19th hat trick in program history and the first since Peter Chang accomplished the feat on Oct. 15, 2023, against Adams State.
  • Dalton Uehling made his 75th career appearance in the Mountain Lions' RMAC quarterfinal matchup against Westminster, which moved him into a tie for seventh in program history in games played. Uehling sits one game away from tying Jake McAllister (76 games) for sixth all-time and two appearances away from tying Kevin Noleen and Brian Edwards for fourth all-time with 77 games played.
  • Hugo Sjöberg continues to climb the program's career goalkeeping charts, ranking 10th in saves at 134, fifth in GAA at 1.236 (minimum 1,000 minutes) and fifth in shutouts with 11. His six shutouts this season ranks as the sixth-most by a UCCS goalkeeper in a single season. Sjöberg is also within reach of climbing the all-time saves list this weekend as he needs just five saves to tie Scott Jensen (139) for ninth place and six saves to match Soren Russell (140) for eighth place.
UCCS UNDER HEAD COACH LEWIS WILCOX
  • Head coach Lewis Wilcox is in his sixth season at the helm of the UCCS men's soccer program and holds a 65-31-25 overall record. Under his leadership, the Mountain Lions have made five consecutive RMAC Tournament appearances and are set to make their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance this weekend, accounting for all four national tournament berths in program history.
  • Wilcox guided UCCS to its first RMAC regular season and tournament championships in 2025, leading the Mountain Lions to the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament for the third consecutive season. As the No. 10 seed in the tournament bracket, the Mountain Lions earned their first two NCAA Tournament victories and advanced to the Round of 16 for the first time in program history.
  • Under Wilcox's tutelage, UCCS student-athletes have collected 29 All-RMAC honors and four conference major awards, including Alex Andersson's 2021 Player of the Year, Matteo Moreno Madrid's 2022 Co-Freshman of the Year, Soren Russell's 2024 Goalkeeper of the Year and Luke Noameshie's 2025 Defensive Player of the Year accolades.
  • The Mountain Lions have also earned 13 D2CCA All-Region honors, six United Soccer Coaches All-Region selections and two D2CCA All-America accolades during his tenure. Academically, UCCS has secured eight RMAC All-Academic First Team honors, nine CSC Academic All-District selections and three CSC Academic All-America awards.
WEATHER
  • Friday afternoon's forecast in Wichita Falls calls for mostly sunny skies with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 60s and winds around 5 to 10 miles per hour.
  • Should the Mountain Lions advance, the forecast for Sunday afternoon's second round matchup calls for cloudy skies with temperatures in the upper 50s and a chance of rain later in the afternoon.
UP NEXT
  • With a win over Westmont on Friday, UCCS would advance to face No. 2 seed Midwestern State in the second round of the tournament at 2 p.m. (MT) on Sunday, Nov. 15.
  • A pair of victories this weekend would send the Mountain Lions to the third round on Friday, Nov. 20 against the winner of No. 3 seed CSU Pueblo and No. 6 seed Cal State San Bernardino, with the site and kickoff time to be determined.
For everything UCCS Athletics, follow the Mountain Lions on social media and stay tuned to gomountainlions.com.
 
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