SELC Quarters: Weathering the Storm

ATLANTA – It took longer than expected with weather delays tormenting a pair of Division I games, but the quarterfinals of the SELC tournament are finally in the books. Five of the eight games saw the favorites move on to the semifinals.

Division I provided two of the three upsets and both happened on one side of the draw. Virginia Tech rolled past NC State, 14-7, to advance to the next stage where they will meet Georgia. The Bulldogs upset Florida, 13-1, a shade before midnight on Friday.

The chalk held comfortably on the top side of the bracket. Georgia Tech did its thing against Central Florida, coasting to a 15-5 triumph. Despite a lightning delay, Liberty subdued South Carolina to set up a Yellow Jackets-Flame contest. The two met earlier this year with the Wreck winning at home, 15-7.

In Division II, Reinhardt was the only team to break seed. The 15th-ranked Eagles – and second seed out of the SELC Southwest – jumped all over No. 12 Palm Beach Atlantic, leading 8-0 at halftime before coasting home to a 14-4 victory. Reinhardt will now tackle The Citadel in one semifinal after the Bulldogs held off Wake Forest, 7-5.

On the other side, No. 4 Kennesaw State won a grinder with defending SELC-II champion Florida Gulf Coast, 6-3, earning the Owls a date with Appalachian State in the semis. The Mountaineers posted a comfortable, 16-10 triumph over the College of Charleston.

The semifinals of the SELC tournament will commence at noon at Johns Creek on Saturday.

Friday’s Results - Quarterfinals
Division I
Game 1: #1SW Georgia Tech d. #2SE Central Florida, 15-5
Game 2: #1NW Liberty d. #2NE South Carolina, 12-9
Game 3: #2SW Georgia d. #1SE Florida, 13-1
Game 4: #2NW Virginia Tech d. #1NE NC State, 14-7

Division II
Game 1: #1SW Kennesaw State d. #2SE Florida Gulf Coast, 6-3
Game 2: #1NW Appalachian State d. #2NE College of Charleston, 16-10
Game 3: #2SW Reinhardt d. #1SE Palm Beach Atlantic, 14-4
Game 4: #1NE The Citadel d. #2NW Wake Forest, 7-5

Saturday, April 23 – Semifinals – at Johns Creek, Ga.
Division I
Georgia Tech vs. Liberty, 5 p.m.
Georgia vs. Virginia Tech, 8 p.m.

Division II
Reinhardt vs. The Citadel, 12 p.m.
Kennesaw State vs. Appalachian State, 3 p.m.

Sunday, April 24 – Finals – at Johns Creek, Ga.
Division I
Semifinal winners, 3 p.m.

Division II
Semifinal winners, 12 p.m.