BROOKVILLE, N.Y. — We're packing our bags for the Rocky Mountain State!

The Northeast Conference champion LIU men's soccer team will face Denver in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at 5 p.m. ET/3 p.m. MT. It marks the first-ever meeting between the programs.

The Sharks learned their assignment as they watched the selection show on NCAA.com on campus.

The LIU-Denver winner will face sixth-seeded SMU in Dallas on Sunday.

CHECK OUT THE FULL NCAA TOURNAMENT BRACKET HERE

LIU secured its second trip to the NCAA tourney in the past three years, and its sixth Northeast Conference postseason title in program history, with a 1-0 win against Sacred Heart on Sunday at LIU Soccer Park. NEC Player of the Year Emil Jaaskelainen headed in the game-winner in the 39th minute off a corner kick from NEC Tournament MVP Alan Martinez.

During the Sharks' last visit to the NCAA Tournament, the team defeated host Maryland, 1-0, in the opening round on Ben Assane Fall's goal in the 89th minute. Eight members who appeared in that Nov. 18, 2021, game remain with the Sharks: Papa Sow, Jaaskelainen, Martinez, Robert Winkler, Fall, Ivan Jara, Michael Mollica and Michael Principe.