ST. AUGUSTINE - For the first time in program history, the No. 17 (USILA Top-20) Flagler College advanced to the NCAA Division II National Tournament. No. 9 Flagler will travel to No. 8 Concordia University Irvine for the play-in match on Wednesday, May 6 at 7 P.M.

First time Peach Belt Conference Champions, the 11-5 Saints earned an automatic bid to the tournament after defeating University of Montevallo 14-12. 11-6 CUI earned their automatic bid after defeating Westminster University, 12-11, for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title. The winner of this game will travel to No. 1 seeded University of Tampa on Sunday, May 10 at 1 P.M.

Across the Division, the Saints and Golden Eagles contrast each other in goals allowed and goals scored. Flagler is ranked No. 21 in the nation in scoring defense as they have allowed 9.31 a game or 149 total. The Golden Eagles boast the No. 17 ranked scoring offense with 14.35 goals a game or 244 total. Concordia's defense is ranked No. 37 in the nation, as they have allowed 10.76 against per game. The Saints offense scores an averages of 11.62 a game which ranks No. 42 in the nation.

The face of the Golden Eagles offense lies with Jeremy Barnes and Matt Carresi. Standing atop the RMAC leader boards, Carresi led the conference in assists per game with two and total points with 70. Barnes came in at second in total points, as he found 64. With 45 total goals, Barnes is ranked No. 38 in the nation. Carresi is tied for 16th in assists per game in Division II.

2025 All-America Trace McDonald is the forefront of the Saints offense. McDonald is No. 10 in the nation in assists per game as he averaged 2.38. Ben Nyberg and Will Linko lead the Saints as the main goal scorers. As a true freshman, Linko leads the Saints with 30 goals on the season. Nyberg trails Linko by two goals but is second on the team in points with 40. 

Both the Saints and the Golden Eagles hold their respective conference Defenders of the Year. As a short-stick defensive midfielder, Brendan Watson finished the year 18 total caused turnovers which ranked him sixth in the conference. With 33 ground balls, Watson led Flagler and was eighth in the conference. Jake Cloutier of CUI is a back-to-back RMAC DOTY after finding 35 ground balls and causing 14 turnovers.

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