MACOMB, Ill. – The 2021 Summit League Men's Soccer Championship is back. The teams elected to not hold a postseason tournament during a 2020 season that was played this past spring due to the Covid-19 pandemic but the four-team event is returning to John MacKenzie Alumni Field this week in Macomb, Ill.
Denver finds itself in a familiar spot as the top seed for the sixth time in what will be the Pioneers' ninth overall appearance. DU, who shared the 2021 regular season title, will face No. 4 seed Kansas City in Thursday's opening semifinal in a rematch of a regular-season finale between the two that ended in a 1-1 draw this past Saturday. These two have never faced each other in the postseason event.
The second semifinal features No. 2 seed and regular season co-champion Oral Roberts vs. No. 3 seed Omaha. The Golden Eagles have shared a piece of two of the past three regular season titles, but will look to advance to their first title game since 2015.
ORU wrapped up a share of the title thanks to a 1-0 victory over Eastern Illinois Saturday.
After falling to the Golden Eagles in the semifinals of their first SL Tournament appearance in 2015, the Mavericks have made four consecutive title match appearances, winning the 2017 title as the No. 3 seed.
The 2015 matchup was the only other time these two squared off in the event. ORU won the regular season match 3-2 in what was the highest-scoring match of league play.
Matchups
Semifinals | Thursday, Nov. 11
(1) Denver vs. (4) Kansas City | 11 a.m. CT
(2) Oral Roberts vs. (3) Omaha | 2 p.m. CT
Final | Saturday, Nov. 13
Semifinal winners | 1 p.m. CT
Live Streaming
All three Summit League Championship matches from Macomb are scheduled to be streamed on ESPN+.
Owen Godberson will provide the play-by-play for all three matches.
Last Week In The Summit League
Wednesday, Nov. 3
Campbell 1, Omaha 0
Saturday, Nov. 6
Oral Roberts 1, Eastern Illinois 0*
Omaha 1, Western Illinois 0 (OT)*
(RV) Denver 1, Kansas City 1 (2OT)*
(#) United Soccer Coaches' Poll ranking
*Summit League match
THE FIELD
Noting The Pioneers (Six Tournament titles)
• 13-1 all-time in SL Tournament
• Seeking SL record seventh tournament title.
• Advanced to title match in all eight appearances
Noting The Golden Eagles (One Tournament title)
• 6-12 all-time in SL Tournament
• Earned share of sixth regular season title
• Won lone title in 1999 as the No. 2 seed
Noting The Mavericks (One Tournament title)
• 5-4 all-time in SL Tournament
• Won 2017 event only other time as the No. 3 seed
• Appeared in last four title matches vs. DU (2016-19)
Noting The Roos (Three Tournament titles)
• 9-13 all-time in SL Tournament
• Fifth appearance as No. 4 seed (1-4)
• Won titles in 2001, 2003 and 2008
#SummitMSOC
