The Case Western Reserve University men's soccer team, ranked third in Division III by the United Soccer Coaches, was selected as one of the 16 host institutions for the first two rounds of the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship, the organization announced in a selection show on Monday.
The Spartans will host Hope College, Transylvania University, and Penn State Behrend for games on Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14. First round games are scheduled to kick off at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Friday with the advancing teams playing in the second round at 2 p.m. on Saturday. All games will be at DiSanto Field in Cleveland. Ticket information will be available later in the week.
CWRU (11-0-5) will face Penn State Behrend (13-1-7), the champion of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference, on Friday at 12 p.m. On the other side of the draw, Hope (13-2-4), the champion of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, will face Transylvania (13-2-3), the champion of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference at 2:30 p.m.
The Spartans earned their spot in the tournament by winning their third University Athletic Association Men's Soccer Championship. The team will be making their sixth all-time appearance in the postseason and third under the leadership of Head Coach Carter Poe, going 5-2-4 all-time. CWRU previously qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2023, 2022, 2018, 2011, and 2006, making their furthest run to the national quarterfinals in 2018. The Spartans hosted the first two rounds in 2006, 2011, and 2018.
The Lions, who are riding a 10-match unbeaten streak, are making their 10th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament and first since 2024. Behrend is 4-8-1 in their 10 appearances, reaching the Round of 16 in 2018. CWRU has a 9-4-1 record against PSB since 1996, including a 1-0 win last season at DiSanto Field.
The Flying Dutch, who defeated 15th-ranked Calvin in the MIAA Championship 1-0, will be in the NCAA Tournament for the 16th time in program history and first since 2024. Hope has a 9-13-4 all-time record in postseason play, advancing to the national quarterfinals in 1994 and 2011.
The Pioneers, who have not lost in 13 games, defeated Earlham 3-2 in the HCAC Championship. Transylvania is making its 10th all-time and second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, going 2-6-6 in its previous nine appearances. The Pioneers advanced to the national quarterfinals in 2009.
If the Spartans advance, it will be their first all-time meeting with either Hope or Transylvania. The advancing team from the second-round match will play Amherst, Stevens, Messiah, or Vassar in the Round of 16 during the weekend of November 20-22 at a site to be determined.
All games will be broadcast for free on ncaa.com through the NCAA Championships Pass, which can be found at https://www.ncaa.com/champs-pass. More information about the tournament will be posted on athletics.case.edu when it is known.
Schedule
Friday, November 13
CWRU vs. Penn St. Behrend - 12 p.m.
Hope vs. Transylvania - 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 14
Advancing Teams - 2 p.m.
