Men's soccer team gets at-large bid to national tournament

The Eastern Florida State College men's soccer team received an at-large bid to the NJCAA Division I National Championship Tournament on Tuesday.

The Titans are 13-1-2 this season and are coming off a tie with Louisburg College in the Southeast District Final that took a school-record 16 rounds of penalty kicks to be decided.

On Tuesday morning they were rewarded with the No. 4 seed in the national tournament in Tyler, Texas Nov. 18 to 23.

"I believe the boys got what they deserved, it has been a very successful season, they have produced some excellent futbol this season and we are excited to play the best teams in the country," Eastern Florida State College men's soccer coach Oliver Twelvetrees said. "I think it is going to be one of the best national tournaments ever with the new at-large bid system and I believe you have 12 of the best teams there and it will be a great showcase for junior college soccer."

The Titans are in Pool D with No. 5 seed Essex County and No. 9 seed and defending national champion Pima.

It is the second straight appearance for the Titans and fourth in program history. Last season the team made it to the semifinals of the national tournament.

"Fantastic group of players throughout, this sophomore class has showed great leadership and a desire and passion for the game and it is a good reward for them but we aren't going to make up the numbers, we want to go and put on our best performance possible," Twelvetrees said. 

Eastern Florida State scored on 13 of the 16 rounds which is also a program record and sophomore goalkeeper Nour Moaoui picked up his eighth shutout of the season which ties the record for most shutouts in a season which he set in his freshman season.

The national tournament begins Monday in Tyler, Texas.