INDIANAPOLIS - After snapping a run of eight straight postseason berths a year ago, North Carolina will make a return to the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship this season as the event's No. 13 national seed, the NCAA announced Monday. The Tar Heels (11-7-1) will receive a first-round bye and will host the winner between Louisville and Jacksonville in the second round Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. at Fetzer Field.

The Cardinals (11-7-2) and Dolphins (11-8-1) will meet Friday at 7 p.m. at Louisville in a first-round match. The other national seeds in the Tar Heels' bracket include No. 4 Michigan State, No. 5 Akron and No. 12 Notre Dame.

Due to construction around Fetzer, fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets at TarHeelBlue.com and use the print-at-home option. Ticketing options on game day are still available, but only one entrance to the stadium will be available to those purchasing on game day.

Carolina, which is a top-16 national seed for the fourth time in the last six years, is making its 16th all-time NCAA appearance and its ninth in the last decade. The Tar Heels, who are 17-14-0 in their postseason history, have hosted at least one postseason match at Fetzer seven times since 2000. UNC has made four trips to the NCAA quarterfinals, two trips to the College Cup and won the national title in 2001.

Entering the NCAA tourney, UNC has dropped its last five games and last won Oct. 18 against Virginia Tech. Three of the Tar Heels' losses over this stretch came against the top two seeds in the tourney - No. 1 Wake Forest and No. 2 Maryland. UNC lost to the Terps by a one-goal margin in the last two games, including a 1-0 loss in the ACC quarterfinals last time out.

The Tar Heels, who are ranked No. 23 in the latest NSCAA poll, have outscored the opposition 41-26 on the season. Paced by first-team All-ACC forward Brian Shriver, UNC is tied for eighth nationally in scoring offense with 2.16 goals per game.