SPOKANE, Wash.- Whitworth will open the 2008 NCAA Division III men's soccer tournament at home on Thursday when the Pirates host Augsburg (Minn.) in the first round. Kick off is at 1:00 p.m.

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The Pirates finished 14-2-3, won their second straight Northwest Conference title and are making their fifth NCAA tournament appearance since 2001. Whitworth is 7-4 in the previous four appearances in the tournament.

Augsburg finished 11-3-6 and as runner-up in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics Conference. The Auggies then tied MIAC champion Carleton 0-0 in the MIAC tournament championship before Carleton pulled out a 5-3 shootout. With the Pool C (at-large) bid, Augsburg is making its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III tournament.

The winner of Thursday's game will play at Redlands (16-4-2) in the second round on Sunday. The Bulldogs are the champion of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletics Conference.

Thursday's game will mark the fifth time Whitworth has hosted NCAA Division III men's soccer tournament play. The Pirates hosted first round matches in 2001 and 2004. In 2005 Whitworth hosted a second round match and the sectionals on the way to an appearance in the Division III final four.

Tickets for Thursday's contest will be $6 for adults, $3 for seniors and students. Per NCAA regulations, Whitworth Athletic passes are not accepted for NCAA tournament games.

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