AUSTIN, Texas – The Concordia Texas men's soccer team returns to the American Southwest Conference Tournament for the sixth year in a row, opening with a showdown against Belhaven in a quarterfinal on Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex.

The Tornados are coming off a COVID-19 shortened season, going 5-2, 4-1 in ASC play, securing the two seed in the ASC West after a thrilling last minute 2-1 win over Howard Payne last Saturday.

Concordia Texas will host the ASC East's three-seeded Blazers in a quarterfinal matchup for the second year in a row, on Thursday, looking to reach the tournament semifinals for the fifth time in the last six seasons.

Head Coach Nick Mims, who became the winningest coach in program history with the team's win over the Yellow Jackets, knows it has been an unusual season, but believes his team is in a position to succeed.

"We are excited and blessed to have qualified for the ASC tournament," Mims said. "The past 12 months has been a challenge for everyone with a new obstacle around every corner so we are grateful for the opportunity to compete. Our student-athletes have persevered through the challenges that we have faced and have earned this opportunity to reap the benefits of their hard work."

The Tornados will have a tough matchup against Belhaven, who finished the shortened season with a record of 3-3-1, closing out the season with a 1-1 tie against top-seeded UT Dallas back on
March 26.

Concordia Texas has been a defensive-minded team throughout the season, recording a pair of shutouts, and has allowed one goal or less in six of their seven games this year.

Offensively, the Tornados have a multitude of weapons, led by the play of sophomore Marco Vazquez, who leads team with four goals.

Victor Gomez and Xaxier Polk, meanwhile, can also be threats inside the box as each have recorded a pair of goals on the year.

Concordia Texas has also been an unselfish team all season, tied for the conference lead in assists with 11, including a team-high three from the program's career assists leader, Joel Abrego.

The Blazers, on the other hand, have had seven different goal scorers this year and will rely on the play of their leading goal scorer Brady Jacobs, who has found the back of the net three times this season.

Mims knows nothing is to be taken for granted in the conference tournament and that the Tornados must be prepared in order to advance.

"Belhaven will be a tricky matchup for us," Mims said. "We must execute our game plan, take our chances and limit our mistakes."

The winner of the quarterfinal will advance to the semifinal round of the tournament, which will be held on April 8 in Abilene, Texas on the campus of Hardin-Simmons, who finished as the one seed out of the west division, and will face the winner between UT Dallas and Sul Ross State.

The Tornados are seeking to return to the conference tournament title game for the second straight season and have an opportunity to claim their first-ever ASC championship.