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The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's soccer team returns to the NCAA Division III Tournament Thursday after a two-year hiatus to host Carroll University at 7 p.m. in a first round match at Fiskum Field.
 
The Warhawks are making their 11th tournament appearance and the Pioneers their sixth.
 
Thursday's match is the 15th meeting between these two teams. The Warhawks lead the all-time series 10-4-0. The last time they met, back on Sept. 25, 2013, the Warhawks walked away with a 1-0 victory at home.
 
This season the Warhawks, led by third year head coach Tony Guinn, are 13-4-4 and at one point had an unbeaten streak of 11 games. Guinn has amassed an overall record of 35-15-8 in his time with the Warhawks, but this will be the first time he leads the team into the NCAA tournament. The Warhawks are the only team in the tournament field to receive a Pool B bid.
 
On the field, senior midfielder John Gottwald (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) leads the way with seven goals and 11 assists. The Warhawks also get help from senior defender Ryan Reid (Rockton, Ill./Hononegah), who has scored seven goals, including three game-winners, and junior forward Sam Novak (Milton, Wis./Milton), who has recorded three goals and six assists. Goalkeeper Josh Rohde (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West), a senior captain, boasts a goals against average of 0.86 and has made 58 saves this season en route to six shutouts and a 10-2-3 record.
 
Carroll enters the tournament with a record of 10-8-2 and earned the Midwest Conference's automatic berth into the tournament by winning the conference tournament. The Pioneers defeated Lake Forest 2-1 in the semifinals and Knox 1-0 in the championship.
 
Rick Mobley, head coach of the Pioneers, is in his 16th season and has an overall record of 153-95-24. Mobley has led the Pioneers to all six of their NCAA tournament appearances as well as their first ever Midwest Conference championship in 2008. The Pioneers also won league titles in 2009 and 2011.
 
Carroll uses a balanced offensive attack and has had 15 different players score goals this season. Tyler Coenen and Francisco Sajuan lead the Pioneers with six goals apiece. Coenen has also recorded four assists and leads the team with 16 points. Nick Drew, Carroll's goalkeeper, is 8-1-2 this season with a 0.81 goals against average, 32 saves and five shutouts.
 
Should the game be close on Thursday, UW-Whitewater is 8-1 in one-goal games this season while Carroll is 3-3. If the game goes to overtime the Warhawks have more experience. UW-Whitewater is 2-1-4 in OT games this season while the Pioneers are 0-0-2.
 
Statistically speaking, the two teams are similar in some areas and quite different in others. Carroll has scored 38 goals this season while giving up 29. The Warhawks have scored 36 and given up 21. UW-Whitewater has shot the ball significantly more the Pioneers, 352 to 284, but the Pioneers have been more accurate, recording 159 shots on goal to the Warhawks' 146.
 
The winner of Thursday's first round match advances to play Wheaton (18-3-0) on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Joe Bean Stadium in Wheaton, Ill. Wheaton received a first round bye and is making its 34th NCAA tournament appearance, the second most in tournament history.