Mansfield, Mass. - As regular-season play wrapped up last night, the NE10 announced the eight men's soccer teams that will make up its 2021 championship field, and Adelphi University will debut as the No. 5 seed in the tournament.

Entering the final week of the season, the Panthers had the opportunity to vault to the top of the standings. Albeit, an 0-3 finish has Adelphi hitting the road for its first-round contest this weekend.

Adelphi will travel to Manchester, N.H. for a 4 p.m. showdown with No. 4 seed Southern New Hampshire University. A pair of second-half goals from Rodrigo Descalzo Rocca sent the Panthers to an exciting 2-1 win at SNHU in their regular-season meeting on Sept. 25.

While Descalzo has been held scoreless over his last three games, he still ranks high among the NE10's goals and points leaders and is tied atop the NCAA Division II leaderboard with six game-winning goals.

The Panthers are hitting the road in an NE10 Tournament quarterfinal for the first time ever. In 2013, Adelphi -- in its inaugural season in the NE10 -- attained its then-lowest seeding to-date as a No. 4 seed.

Adelphi has won each of its last seven contests against SNHU. Six of them have been decided by a single goal. The Panthers have also won their last three showdowns with the Penmen in Manchester.

The winner will meet either No. 1 seed Franklin Pierce or No. 8 seed Southern Connecticut in the semifinal round Wednesday (Nov. 10) at the higher seed. Adelphi is in search of its first NE10 Championship since 2018.

2021 NE10 Men's Soccer Championship (all played at higher seeds)
Quarterfinals - Saturday, Nov. 6
Match 1: #8 Southern Connecticut at #1 Franklin Pierce - 7 p.m.
Match 2: #7 New Haven at #2 American International - 1 p.m.
Match 3: #6 Le Moyne at #3 Saint Rose - 1 p.m.
Match 4: #5 Adelphi at #4 Southern New Hampshire - 4 p.m.  

Semifinals - Wednesday, Nov. 10
Match 5: Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 4 - TBA
Match 6: Winner of Match 2 vs. Winner of Match 3 - TBA

Championship - Saturday, Nov. 13
Match 7: Winner of Match 5 vs. Winner of Match 6 - TBA