MIDDLETOWN, CT. - The NCAA Tournament returns to campus this weekend, as Wesleyan University men's soccer welcomes SUNY Geneseo, the University of Scranton, and Manhattanville University for opening-round action. The four-team pod features three automatic qualifiers and an experienced Wesleyan squad making its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Wesleyan will face SUNY Geneseo on Saturday Nov. 14, at 11 a.m. at Smith Field.

The Cardinals enter the NCAA Tournament as the pod's lone at-large selection, out of the most dominant conference in the nation, after falling to Williams, 1-0, in the NESCAC Championship quarterfinals. The NCAA Tournament will feature seven NESCAC teams; Bowdoin, Williams, Amherst, Hamilton, Conn. College, Tufts, and Wesleyan.

Despite the early conference tournament exit, the Cardinals earned their third consecutive NCAA Tournament berth and eighth overall. The Cardinals will also serve as a host for the fourth time in program history, marking the second straight season the Cardinals have welcomed the national tournament to campus.

Head coach Geoff Wheeler holds a 6-6-2 national record following last season's trip to the Second Round, defeating Lehman before an exit to Rowan. Ford Cash '29 leads the Cardinals with five goals and three assists. In goal, Simon Rebstock will make his first NCAA Tournament appearance, entering with a 3-3-3 record, 35 saves, and a .788 save percentage.

Facing the Cardinals for the first time is SUNY Geneseo. The Knights captured their second consecutive Empire 8 championship with a 1-0 overtime victory over Hartwick, earning an automatic NCAA bid. Aidan Lodie scored the game-winner and was named Empire 8 MVP after recording two game-winning goals during the conference playoffs.

Lodie leads the Knights with nine goals and one assist. Goalkeeper Max Crothall has recorded 15 wins, 66 saves, and a .815 save percentage while leading the Empire 8 in single-season shutouts. The Knights look to improve on last year's first-round exit against Middlebury.

The second game at Smith Field on Saturday starts with the University of Scranton. The Royals earned an automatic bid with a 1-0 victory over Moravian in the Landmark Conference championship, capturing its fourth conference title and first since 2022. The Royals are making their 19th NCAA Tournament appearance and second consecutive trip.

The Royals have outscored opponents 30-6 this season, led offensively by Matt Capretto's seven goals and two assists. Cooper Seele scored the championship-winning goal, while Landmark Conference MVP Justin Scavalla anchors the defense in goal with a 14-1-3 record, 31 saves, and a .886 save percentage.

Awaiting the Royals is Manhattanville University. The Valiants return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2024 after capturing its fourth Skyline Conference championship with a 3-1 win over Saint Joseph's University Long Island. The Valiants scored all three goals in the opening 22 minutes, with Tiernan McLaughlin, Luis Del Riego, and Alex Rojas finding the net.

Alex Pineda leads the Valiants with 12 goals, followed by McLaughlin with 10. Goalkeeper Jesse James de Ruiter enters the tournament with an 8-0-4 record, 31 saves, and a .705 save percentage.

The winners of the opening First Round matchups will play Sunday, Nov. 15, in the Second Round at 1 p.m. at Smith Field.