LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- In the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history, the Covenant men's soccer team heads to Lexington, Va., to take on Denison in the first round on Friday at 5 p.m. at Watt Field on the campus of Washington & Lee in Lexington, Va.

The Covenant-Denison winner advances to the second round and face the winner of Washington & Lee-Baruch on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

Covenant (11-3-4) earned the USA South championship in a penalty shootout over N.C. Wesleyan on Saturday. Covenant is making its second appearance in the NCAA Tournament and first since 2014. Overall, it is the Scots' 10th national tournament appearance in program history.

The Scots enter the weekend on a 14-match unbeaten streak. It is the third-longest stretch in program history and the longest since 1993 (16 straight). During the streak, the Scots are 11-0-3 with seven shutouts.

Denison (12-4-2) won the North Coast Athletic Conference title with a 1-0 win over No. 18 Ohio Wesleyan. The Big Red are making their 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, but the first since 2009.

Friday will be the first meeting all-time between Covenant and Denison.

Mercer Stout was named the USA South Tournament MVP after tallying three goals with one assist in the tournament. Goalkeeper Henry Hooks made saves on two PKs in the title match and also earned a spot on the USA South All-Tournament team along with Parker Owen, Jay Patterson, and Austin Berry.

Stout has come on strong late in the season with four goals and four assists over the last four matches and was named to the All-USA South first team. He leads the team with nine goals and nine assists on the year. Owen also collected first team All-USA South as one of the top midfielders in the league.

Hooks has been a standout at the net all year for the Scots. The senior was second in the USA South with a 1.01 goals against average and first in shutouts (seven) and wins (11). 

CONNECT WITH THE SCOTS

Be sure to follow the Scots all season long on athletics.covenant.edu and on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for up-to-date scores, news and other information.