STANDISH, Maine – Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Champion Saint Joseph's College (9-2-8, 6-0-6 GNAC) will face #10 Middlebury College (10-2-3, 6-1-3 NESCAC) in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament at South Street Field in Middlebury, Vermont, on Saturday, November 14 at 11:00 AM.

The Monks, making their seventh NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2021, earned the GNAC's automatic berth after capturing the program's seventh conference championship. Middlebury received an at-large bid and will host the opening two rounds of the national tournament.

GAME INFORMATION:

Saturday, November 14 – 11:00 AM
South Street Field – Middlebury College
Middlebury, Vermont
LIVE STATS | VIDEO

Tickets:

$15 – Adults
$5 – Students/Seniors
Free – Children two and under
$25 – All-sessions pass

HOW THEY GOT HERE:

Saint Joseph's College:

Led by eighth-year head coach Will Pike '11, Saint Joseph's posted an undefeated 6-0-6 record in GNAC play and earned the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament.

The Monks opened postseason play at No. 4 University of Saint Joseph, advancing with a 5-4 penalty-kick shootout victory following a draw through two overtime periods. Saint Joseph's then defeated top-seeded Emmanuel, 2-1, in overtime, to advance to the GNAC Championship.

In Saturday's title game, the Monks defeated No. 7 Norwich University, 2-0, to capture their seventh GNAC Championship and secure the conference's automatic NCAA Tournament berth.

Middlebury College:

Middlebury posted a 10-2-3 overall record and a 6-1-3 mark in NESCAC play under head coach Alex Elias '08. The Panthers earned the top seed in the NESCAC Tournament but suffered a 3-2 setback to eighth-seeded Amherst College in the conference quarterfinals on October 31.

Despite the early conference tournament exit, Middlebury earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament and was selected to host first- and second-round competition.

WHAT'S NEXT:

The winner of Saturday's Saint Joseph's/Middlebury matchup will face the winner of the Hobart College (10-3-4) versus Wheaton College (Mass.) (11-2-6) contest, scheduled for Saturday at 1:30 PM.

The two advancing teams will meet at South Street Field on Sunday, November 15 at 1:00 PM, with a berth in the NCAA Tournament Third Round at stake.

SEASON AT A GLANCE:

Saint Joseph's College:

• Saint Joseph's enters the NCAA Tournament with a 9-2-8 overall record after completing an unbeaten 6-0-6 GNAC regular season.
• The Monks rank second nationally in team save percentage (.868), leading the GNAC in the category.
• Saint Joseph's leads the GNAC and ranks 15th in NCAA Division III in shots on goal per game (8.84) and 22nd nationally in shots per game (17.95).
• The Monks rank 41st nationally in goal differential (+25) and lead the conference in points per game (6.11), assists per game (1.79), and shutout percentage (.474).
• Saint Joseph's ranks 44th nationally and leads the GNAC with a 0.828 team goals-against average.
• The Monks have totaled 41 goals, 34 assists, and 116 points this season.

Middlebury College:

• Middlebury earned the top seed in the NESCAC Tournament after posting a 6-1-3 conference record, marking the sixth consecutive season in which the Panthers finished at .500 or better in conference play.
• Middlebury suffered a 3-2 setback to eighth-seeded Amherst in the NESCAC Quarterfinals on October 31, ending its pursuit of a conference championship.
• The Panthers rank third nationally in shutout percentage (.667) and seventh in team goals-against average (0.533), leading the NESCAC in both categories.
• Middlebury also leads the NESCAC and ranks 33rd nationally in scoring offense (2.47) and points per game (7.00), while ranking 28th in goal differential (+29) and 27th in shots per game (17.60).

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Saint Joseph's:

• Nick Marion (Jr., Windham, Maine) – Leads the Monks with 10 goals, eight assists, and 28 points. Marion ranks second in the GNAC in goals and points and is tied for the conference lead in assists. Nationally, he ranks 41st in total assists and points, and 64th in total goals and points per game (1.47).
• Damir Brkic (First-Year, South Portland, Maine) – Ranks second on the team with eight goals and 20 points, placing fourth in the GNAC in both categories. Brkic ranks second in the conference and 50th nationally in shots on goal per game (1.74), while ranking fourth in the GNAC and 64th nationally in shots per game (3.32).
• Cole Bishop (Sr., Gorham, Maine) – A GNAC All-Tournament Team selection, Bishop played a key role in the Monks' conference championship run. He assisted on both goals in the 2-0 championship victory over Norwich and converted his penalty kick in the quarterfinal shootout against the University of Saint Joseph. Bishop also recorded two goals in the Monks' 5-0 victory over Mitchell during the regular season.

Middlebury:

• Will Sawin – Leads the Panthers with 11 goals and 23 points, ranking first in the NESCAC in both goals and goals per game (0.73). Sawin ranks second nationally with six game-winning goals, 24th in goals per game, and 48th in total goals and points per game (1.53).
• Harper Nicholl – Leads Middlebury with five assists and ranks seventh in the NESCAC in assists per game (0.36). Nicholl ranks 132nd nationally in assists per game.
• Colin Dugan – Ranks second on the Panthers in scoring with 11 points on four goals and three assists. Dugan has started all 11 games in which he has appeared, recording 24 shots, including 11 on goal, and one game-winning goal. He is tied for second on the team in goals and assists and ranks second in shots and shots on goal.

KEEPER COMPARISON:

Saint Joseph's: Alex Bachmann (Sr., Scarborough, Maine) – The GNAC Goalkeeper of the Year leads the conference with a 0.854 goals-against average and .860 save percentage. Bachmann ranks 12th nationally in save percentage, 16th in goalkeeper minutes played (1,686:14), and 20th in total saves (98). His seven shutouts rank first in the GNAC and 32nd nationally.

Middlebury: Leon Brody – The Panthers' goalkeeper ranks fourth nationally and leads the NESCAC with a 0.444 goals-against average. Brody also ranks sixth nationally with nine shutouts and 20th in save percentage (.842), ranking second in the conference in the latter category.

ATTITUDE REFLECTS LEADERSHIP:

Saint Joseph's College: Will Pike '11 (Eighth Season, 82-32-21, .685)

Pike, the winningest head coach in Saint Joseph's men's soccer history, has guided the Monks to two GNAC Championships (2021, 2026) and three NCAA Tournament appearances. He became the program's all-time wins leader in October 2025, surpassing Adrian Dubois' previous record of 71 victories.

A former All-Conference goalkeeper, Pike has helped establish one of the GNAC's top defensive programs. During his tenure as an assistant and head coach, Saint Joseph's goalkeepers have earned eight GNAC Goalkeeper of the Year awards, including Alex Bachmann's selection in 2026. His 2019 squad led NCAA Division III in shutout percentage (.667), while the 2021 championship team ranked eighth nationally in save percentage (.862).

A 2011 Saint Joseph's graduate and 2019 SJC Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Pike earned First Team All-Conference honors twice and helped the Monks capture their first GNAC Championship in 2009. He also served as an assistant during the program's run of three consecutive GNAC titles from 2016-18.

Middlebury College: Alex Elias '08 (Eighth Season, 94-29-30, .712)

Elias took over the Middlebury men's soccer program in December 2017 after serving four seasons as an assistant coach. Under his leadership, the Panthers have advanced to three NCAA Quarterfinals (2021, 2023, 2024), including a trip to the national semifinals in 2024. His coaching staff earned NESCAC Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2023 and United Soccer Coaches Regional Coaching Staff of the Year recognition in both 2023 and 2024.

A 2008 Middlebury graduate, Elias captained the Panthers to the 2007 NCAA Division III National Championship and NESCAC title. An accomplished midfielder, he earned First Team All-America, All-New England, and All-NESCAC honors during his collegiate career. Prior to returning to Middlebury, Elias served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at LIU Brooklyn from 2011-14. He also joined the Vermont Green FC coaching staff as an assistant in 2025.

THE LAST TIME WE MET:

Saint Joseph's and Middlebury have met once previously, with the Monks earning a 2-1 victory over the Panthers in the opening round of the 2018 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament at Amherst College on November 10, 2018.

Saint Joseph's entered the contest with an undefeated 20-0 record and took a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute when Noah Robinson scored off an assist from Quinn Hewitt. Middlebury tied the game in the 79th minute on a goal by Daniel O'Grady, but the Monks answered in the 85th minute when Hewitt scored the game-winner off a feed from Dalton Gaumer.

Middlebury held the advantage in shots (15-7), shots on goal (8-4), and corner kicks (5-2), but Saint Joseph's goalkeeper Blake Mullen made seven saves to preserve the victory. The win improved the Monks to 21-0 and sent them to the NCAA Tournament Second Round against host Amherst College.

NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY:

Saint Joseph's:

Saint Joseph's is making its seventh NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2021. The Monks own a 2-5-2 all-time record in NCAA Tournament play and captured their most recent national tournament victory with a 2-1 triumph over Middlebury in 2018.

The program has earned seven GNAC Championships (2009, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, and 2026).

Middlebury:

Middlebury is making its ninth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 19th overall after receiving an at-large berth to the 2026 championship. The Panthers have reached the NCAA Quarterfinals three times since 2021, including a national semifinal appearance in 2024.

The Panthers captured the 2007 NCAA Division III National Championship, defeating Trinity (Texas) in penalty kicks following a scoreless draw in the title game. Current Head Coach Alex Elias '08 was a First Team All-American and captain of the national championship squad.