EUNICE, La. – For the third time in the program's six years of existence, LSU Eunice Men's Soccer will join the country's very best at the NJCAA Division I National Tournament as the Bengals earn an at-large berth to the 12-team field. The Bengals (13-2-1) were one of four at-large berths into the field that was announced on Tuesday by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
 
LSU Eunice earned the eighth seed and will be grouped in Pool A with top-seed Arizona Western (15-0-3) and 12 seed Casper College (9-6-5).  The tournament begins with Pool Play on Sunday, November 12 from the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kansas.  The Bengals will have the first day of competition off before playing Casper on Monday, November 13 at 10:00AM.
 
The Bengals' berth into the National Tournament is the program's third but first under second year head coach Matthew Wolf.  LSUE finished the regular season ranked fourth in the final NJCAA poll and its 13 wins are the second most in a single season in program history.  The Bengals went 6-2 this season against NJCAA ranked competition with just one of those games being played at home.
 
A balanced team across the board, LSU Eunice heads into the National Tournament ranked 10th in the country in goals scored (60) and fifth nationally in shut outs (9).  The Bengals are led offensively by Jose Luis Bustamante (Bogota, Colombia, Colegio Andino) with nine goals and six assists, while sophomore goalkeeper Zachary Clary (Pensacola, FL, Tate HS) has posted one of the best seasons in the country in net.  Clary ranks third in save percentage (.884), fourth in wins (12), and 10th in goals against average (0.69).
 
LSUE is one of three teams in the National Tournament from the Gulf South District, joined by five-seed Angelina College and seven-seed Tyler Junior College.  The field is rounded out by two-seed Eastern Florida State, 11-seed Murray State, three-seed Salt Lake, six-seed Barton, 10-seed, Indian Hills, 4-seed Monroe and 9-seed Cowley.  Pool winners advance to a four-team single elimination bracket that begins on Thursday, November 16 with the National Championship Game slated for Saturday, November 18.
 
The Bengals will face off with 2022 National Runner-Up Arizona Western and first-time qualifier Casper College.  The Matadors earned the top seed after a West District Championship, an undefeated season and ranking of number one in the NJCAA polls the final three weeks of the season.   The Thunderbirds head to Wichita after a Northwest Plains District Championship and were ranked as high as 13 this season.
 
All games will be broadcast on the NJCAA Network via a pay-per-view platform that can be accessed on all phones, computers, tablets, or devices.  You can find links to LSUE's contests at www.lsuebengals.net.  The City of Eunice will be organizing a send off as the Bengals leave for Kansas via motorcade.  Fans and supporters are encouraged to line Laurel Avenue (U.S. Hwy 190) from Bobcat Lane to Louisiana Highway 13 where they will head north and out of town.