DUDLEY, Mass. (Nov. 8) – The Nichols College men's soccer team will host the first round of the 2010 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament Thursday, November 11. The Bison, who earned their first-ever NCAA bid with a program-best 15-3-3 record, will host Eastern Connecticut State University (13-3-3) at 6 p.m. on Vendetti Field.

Ticket prices are $6 for general admission, $3 for senior citizens and students with a valid ID, and $2 for children ages three to 12. Children under two years old are admitted free. Nichols College students with valid ID will be admitted free courtesy of the Nichols College SGA.

Live stats will be available here. Nichols College Radio will have the call on WXRB 95.1-FM in the Dudley, Mass. area and live online here.

Nichols earned the The Commonwealth Coast Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with the Bison's first-ever TCCC title Saturday. After a 1-1 deadlock through 110 minutes, the Bison edged Gordon, 3-1, in the fourth round of penalty kicks.

Eastern Connecticut earned an at-large berth after being edged in the Little East Conference semifinals in the fifth round of penalty kicks, 5-4, by Rhode Island College in a scoreless draw. The Warriors return to the NCAA Tournament after earning the Little East's automatic bid in 2009.

Nichols and Eastern Connecticut last met in the 2008 ECAC Division III Men's Soccer Tournament, a 5-0 Warriors victory in Willimantic. Eastern Connecticut holds a 7-0 lead in the all-time series dating back to 1982, including five wins by shutout.

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