GREEN BAY, Wis. - The men's soccer team has learned who their match will be in the NCAA tournament which kicks off Thursday. The Phoenix will head back to Indiana where they will face Notre Dame (10-7-4) at 6:30 p.m. in the tournament's first round on Thursday.

"It will be a big challenge, Notre Dame is a Big East team and have a good tradition there but our guys will be ready to showcase ourselves on a big stage," said head coach Tom Poitras.

Notre Dame's conference tournament ended the same way Green Bay's did in a penalty kick shootout. The difference, Green Bay came home with the conference championship while the Fighting Irish had to settle for Big East runner-up.

Last season the Irish advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament only to fall 2-1 to Northwestern University. Ninth-ranked Northwestern (10-4-4) is the opponent awaiting the winner of the Notre Dame/Green Bay match. The Phoenix faced Northwestern in their first game of the season to come from behind and finish in a 3-3 tie in two overtime periods.

In 2008, Notre Dame built a $5.7 million soccer facility that the Phoenix will have the opportunity to experience, "It's an honor to get to go and play in one of the nicest facilities in the country," said Poitras.

Should Green Bay advance to play Northwestern in the second round, they will play at Northwestern on Sunday at noon.

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